TAILORED appreciation: A novel, actionable and low-cost method to reduce clinician burnout

Abstract

In the growing crisis of burnout among physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs), there is an often overlooked yet practical solution: tailored appreciation. Nationwide, over 50 per cent of physicians and APPs do not feel valued by their organisations. Not feeling valued contributes to burnout and turnover; however, misunderstanding often occurs in regard to how the sense of feeling valued can be improved. Moffitt Cancer Center developed the Moffitt Provider Appreciation Assessment (MPAA) to better understand the perceived impact of various appreciation methods among clinical faculty and APPs and then used this information to guide department and organisational leaders towards practical solutions. Survey results revealed that no single method of appreciation had a universally high or low impact. All methods could be considered impactful to various degrees based on personal preferences. Some of the most highly rated ways to improve a sense of feeling valued (inclusion in decision making and reducing daily frustrations) may not traditionally be considered as ‘appreciation methods’ but were ranked more impactful than awards, academic promotion, gifts and even financial incentives. Moffitt department leaders used their department-specific data to create, measure and implement initiatives geared towards improving appreciation. In addition, the results informed broader well-being initiatives. Burnout rates and a sense of feeling valued have steadily improved.