# What do we really know about addressing burnout among healthcare workers? Maybe less than we think

## TL;DR

This paper questions whether current methods to reduce healthcare worker burnout are actually supported by strong evidence.

## Contribution

The paper identifies major gaps in evidence for interventions targeting healthcare worker burnout.

## Key findings

- Current assumptions about addressing burnout lack strong evidence.
- Social support initiatives show limited credible evidence of effectiveness.
- More rigorous research is urgently needed due to healthcare worker shortages.

## Abstract

This policy inquiry responds to the question: Are commonly held assumptions about how to address healthcare workers' burnout truly evidence-based? We think not. Our conclusion is informed by findings from a recently completed large systematic review commissioned by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. We highlight significant gaps in research regarding effective interventions directed at healthcare worker burnout. We include findings related to social support initiatives where limited credible evidence points to the potential for positive effects. We conclude that certainty about the effectiveness of intervention programs directed at burnout is elusive and there is a dire need for additional studies using rigorous methods given the healthcare worker shortage we now face.