# Associations between patient care ownership, burnout, and job satisfaction among medical residents: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Japan

## TL;DR

This study finds that a sense of ownership over patient care is linked to lower burnout and higher job satisfaction among medical residents in Japan.

## Contribution

The study introduces patient care ownership as a novel factor influencing burnout and job satisfaction in medical residents.

## Key findings

- Higher patient care ownership is associated with lower burnout among medical residents.
- Patient care ownership is positively linked to greater job satisfaction.
- These associations remain significant after adjusting for potential confounders.

## Abstract

Although considerable bodies of literature have elucidated various determinants of burnout and job satisfaction among medical residents, one aspect that remains under-examined is the impact of patient care ownership (PCO). Therefore, we aimed to examine the associations between PCO, burnout, and job satisfaction among residents. This was a nationwide cross-sectional study, using online anonymous surveys from January 17 to March 31, 2024. The participants were residents who participated in the General Medicine In-Training Examination, a nationwide examination in Japan. The primary outcome was burnout, assessed using the Single-item Measure of Burnout Scale. The secondary outcome was job satisfaction, measured by the item included in the Mini-Z 2.0. The explanatory variable was PCO, as assessed by the Japanese version of the PCO Scale. 1816 participants were in the analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that, after adjustment for possible confounders, PCO showed a negative association with burnout, and that there was a positive association between PCO and job satisfaction. The findings suggest the importance of emphasizing PCO in the context of exploring burnout and job satisfaction among medical residents. This knowledge will inform educational interventions to help residents work with less burnout and greater job satisfaction, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-40301-3.