Veterinarian Burnout Demographics and Organizational Impacts: a Narrative Review

Overview

Journal Front Vet Sci

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2023 Jul 20

PMID 37470072

Authors

Michele A Steffey

Dominique J Griffon

Marije Risselada

Valery F Scharf

Nicole J Buote

Helia Zamprogno

Alexandra L Winter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Burnout is a work-related syndrome of physical and emotional exhaustion secondary to prolonged, unresolvable occupational stress. Individuals of different demographic cohorts may have disparate experiences of workplace stressors and burnout impacts. Healthcare organizations are adversely affected by burnt out workers through decreased productivity, low morale, suboptimal teamwork, and potential impacts on the quality of patient care. In this second of two companion reviews, the demographics of veterinary burnout and the impacts of burnout on affected individuals and work environments are summarized, before discussing mitigation concepts and their extrapolation for targeted strategies within the veterinary workplace and profession.

Citing Articles

A call to action: Ameliorating moral distress among veterinarians.

Mani I Can Vet J. 2025; 66(2):196-205.

PMID: 39898178 PMC: 11770615.

Assessing risk factors for drug storage practices in veterinary surgeries: A questionnaire study of UK veterinary professionals.

Perry J, Gouveia K Vet Rec Open. 2025; 12(1):e270005.

PMID: 39897625 PMC: 11783155. DOI: 10.1002/vro2.70005.

The future of flourishing in veterinary medicine: a systems-informed positive psychology approach in veterinary education.

Corrigan V, Newman R, Richmond P, Strand E, Vaisman J Front Vet Sci. 2025; 11():1484412.

PMID: 39846024 PMC: 11753236. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1484412.

Validation of the burnout assessment tool-core symptoms in Spanish veterinarians, sex invariance, and cutoff points.

Osca A, Barrado J, Millan L Front Vet Sci. 2024; 11:1454775.

PMID: 39474273 PMC: 11520139. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1454775.

Life satisfaction, psychological distress, compassion satisfaction and resilience: when the pleasure of helping others protects veterinary staff from emotional suffering.

Peixoto M, Cunha O Vet Res Commun. 2024; 48(5):3489-3498.

PMID: 39162767 PMC: 11442479. DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10510-0.

References

Feudtner C, Christakis D, Christakis N . Do clinical clerks suffer ethical erosion? Students' perceptions of their ethical environment and personal development. Acad Med. 1994; 69(8):670-9. DOI: 10.1097/00001888-199408000-00017. View

Jin H, Gold C, Cho J, Marzban F, Lim L . The Role of Healthcare Facility Design on the Mental Health of Healthcare Professionals: A Literature Review. HERD. 2022; 16(1):270-286. PMC: 9755695. DOI: 10.1177/19375867221118685. View

Tawfik D, Profit J, Morgenthaler T, Satele D, Sinsky C, Dyrbye L . Physician Burnout, Well-being, and Work Unit Safety Grades in Relationship to Reported Medical Errors. Mayo Clin Proc. 2018; 93(11):1571-1580. PMC: 6258067. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.05.014. View

Chew-Graham C, Rogers A, Yassin N . 'I wouldn't want it on my CV or their records': medical students' experiences of help-seeking for mental health problems. Med Educ. 2003; 37(10):873-80. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2923.2003.01627.x. View

Samuels E, Boatright D, Wong A, Cramer L, Desai M, Solotke M . Association Between Sexual Orientation, Mistreatment, and Burnout Among US Medical Students. JAMA Netw Open. 2021; 4(2):e2036136. PMC: 7856540. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.36136. View

Folkard S . Shift work, safety, and aging. Chronobiol Int. 2008; 25(2):183-98. DOI: 10.1080/07420520802106694. View

Shanafelt T . Enhancing meaning in work: a prescription for preventing physician burnout and promoting patient-centered care. JAMA. 2009; 302(12):1338-40. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2009.1385. View

Wang A, Dunlop R, Allavena R, Palmieri C . Gender representation on journal editorial boards in the field of veterinary sciences. Res Vet Sci. 2022; 148:21-26. DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.05.001. View

Drury R, Taylor N, Porter C . Medical Students' Perception of Psychotherapy and Predictors for Self-Utilization and Prospective Patient Referrals. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023; 13(1). PMC: 9854472. DOI: 10.3390/bs13010017. View

10.

Perret J, Best C, Coe J, Greer A, Khosa D, Jones-Bitton A . Association of demographic, career, and lifestyle factors with resilience and association of resilience with mental health outcomes in veterinarians in Canada. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2020; 257(10):1057-1068. DOI: 10.2460/javma.2020.257.10.1057. View

11.

Shanafelt T, Mungo M, Schmitgen J, Storz K, Reeves D, Hayes S . Longitudinal Study Evaluating the Association Between Physician Burnout and Changes in Professional Work Effort. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016; 91(4):422-31. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.02.001. View

12.

Neill C, Kakpo A, Mack R . The role of experience, specialty certification, and practice ownership in the gender wage gap for veterinarians in the United States. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2021; 258(6):591-600. DOI: 10.2460/javma.258.6.591. View

13.

McArthur M, Matthew S, Brand C, Andrews J, Fawcett A, Hazel S . Cross-sectional analysis of veterinary student coping strategies and stigma in seeking psychological help. Vet Rec. 2019; 184(23):709. DOI: 10.1136/vr.105042. View

14.

Fassiotto M, Li J, Maldonado Y, Kothary N . Female Surgeons as Counter Stereotype: The Impact of Gender Perceptions on Trainee Evaluations of Physician Faculty. J Surg Educ. 2018; 75(5):1140-1148. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2018.01.011. View

15.

Coit M, Katz J, McMahon G . The effect of workload reduction on the quality of residents' discharge summaries. J Gen Intern Med. 2010; 26(1):28-32. PMC: 3024111. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-010-1465-z. View

16.

Kogan L, Booth M, Rishniw M . Factors that impact recruitment and retention of veterinarians in emergency practice. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2022; 260(15):1986-1992. DOI: 10.2460/javma.22.07.0306. View

17.

Garcia C, de Abreu L, Ramos J, Castro C, Smiderle F, Santos J . Influence of Burnout on Patient Safety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019; 55(9). PMC: 6780563. DOI: 10.3390/medicina55090553. View

18.

Dyrbye L, Eacker A, Durning S, Brazeau C, Moutier C, Massie F . The Impact of Stigma and Personal Experiences on the Help-Seeking Behaviors of Medical Students With Burnout. Acad Med. 2015; 90(7):961-9. DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000000655. View

19.

Edmonson C, Zelonka C . Our Own Worst Enemies: The Nurse Bullying Epidemic. Nurs Adm Q. 2019; 43(3):274-279. PMC: 6716575. DOI: 10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000353. View

20.

Person S, Jordan C, Allison J, Fink Ogawa L, Castillo-Page L, Conrad S . Measuring Diversity and Inclusion in Academic Medicine: The Diversity Engagement Survey. Acad Med. 2015; 90(12):1675-83. PMC: 5823241. DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000000921. View