Assessing the Impact on Electronic Health Record Burden After Five Years of Physician Engagement in a Canadian Mental Health Organization: Mixed-Methods Study
Abstract BackgroundThe burden caused by the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems continues to be an important issue for health care organizations, especially given human resource shortages in health care systems globally. As physicians report spending 2 hours document...
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JMIR Publications
2025-05-01
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| Series: | JMIR Human Factors |
| Online Access: | https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2025/1/e65656 |
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| author | Tania Tajirian Brian Lo Gillian Strudwick Adam Tasca Emily Kendell Brittany Poynter Sanjeev Kumar Po-Yen (Brian) Chang Candice Kung Debbie Schachter Gwyneth Zai Michael Kiang Tamara Hoppe Sara Ling Uzma Haider Kavini Rabel Noelle Coombe Damian Jankowicz Sanjeev Sockalingam |
| author_facet | Tania Tajirian Brian Lo Gillian Strudwick Adam Tasca Emily Kendell Brittany Poynter Sanjeev Kumar Po-Yen (Brian) Chang Candice Kung Debbie Schachter Gwyneth Zai Michael Kiang Tamara Hoppe Sara Ling Uzma Haider Kavini Rabel Noelle Coombe Damian Jankowicz Sanjeev Sockalingam |
| author_sort | Tania Tajirian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
BackgroundThe burden caused by the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems continues to be an important issue for health care organizations, especially given human resource shortages in health care systems globally. As physicians report spending 2 hours documenting for every hour of patient care, there has been strong interest from many organizations to understand and address the root causes of physician burnout due to EHR burden.
ObjectiveThis study focuses on evaluating physician burnout related to EHR usage and the impact of a physician engagement strategy at a Canadian mental health organization 5 years after implementation.
MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the perceived impact of the physician engagement strategy on burnout associated with EHR use. Physicians were invited to participate in a web-based survey that included the Mini-Z Burnout questionnaire, along with questions about their perceptions of the EHR and the effectiveness of the initiatives within the physician engagement strategy. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data.
ResultsOf the 254 physicians invited, 128 completed the survey, resulting in a 50% response rate. Among the respondents, 26% (33/128) met the criteria for burnout according to the Mini-Z questionnaire, with 61% (20/33) of these attributing their burnout to EHR use. About 52% of participants indicated that the EHR improves communication (67/128) and 38% agreed that the EHR enables high-quality care (49/128). Regarding the physician engagement strategy initiatives, 39% (50/128) agreed that communication through the strategy is efficient, and 75% (96/128) felt more proficient in using the EHR. However, additional areas for improvement within the EHR were identified, including (1) medication reconciliation and prescription processes; (2) chart navigation and information retrieval; (3) longitudinal medication history; and (4) technology infrastructure challenges.
ConclusionsThis study highlights the potential impact of EHRs on physician burnout and the effectiveness of a unique physician engagement strategy in fostering positive perceptions and improving EHR usability among physicians. By evaluating this initiative in a real-world setting, the study contributes to the broader literature on strategies aimed at enhancing physician experience following large-scale EHR implementation. However, the findings indicate a continued need for system-level improvements to maximize the value and usage of EHRs. The physician engagement strategy demonstrates the potential to enhance physicians’ EHR experience. Future efforts should prioritize system-level advancements to increase the EHR’s impact on quality of care and develop standardized approaches for engaging physicians on a broader Canadian scale. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0c98dbc14cf045478a553d382e4afaf3 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2292-9495 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Human Factors |
| spelling | doaj-art-0c98dbc14cf045478a553d382e4afaf32025-08-20T03:09:45ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Human Factors2292-94952025-05-0112e65656e6565610.2196/65656Assessing the Impact on Electronic Health Record Burden After Five Years of Physician Engagement in a Canadian Mental Health Organization: Mixed-Methods StudyTania Tajirianhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0668-4397Brian Lohttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1021-884XGillian Strudwickhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-1080-7372Adam Tascahttp://orcid.org/0009-0003-0669-703XEmily Kendellhttp://orcid.org/0009-0008-0425-7053Brittany Poynterhttp://orcid.org/0009-0009-0201-6827Sanjeev Kumarhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-8115-353XPo-Yen (Brian) Changhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-3082-7335Candice KungDebbie Schachterhttp://orcid.org/0009-0004-0295-2782Gwyneth Zaihttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-0894-6867Michael Kianghttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1113-9211Tamara Hoppehttp://orcid.org/0009-0008-8854-7890Sara Linghttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2052-7777Uzma Haiderhttp://orcid.org/0009-0005-4043-7885Kavini Rabelhttp://orcid.org/0009-0000-9036-2643Noelle Coombehttp://orcid.org/0009-0007-5854-5985Damian Jankowiczhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-0579-1337Sanjeev Sockalingamhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-9626-1509 Abstract BackgroundThe burden caused by the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems continues to be an important issue for health care organizations, especially given human resource shortages in health care systems globally. As physicians report spending 2 hours documenting for every hour of patient care, there has been strong interest from many organizations to understand and address the root causes of physician burnout due to EHR burden. ObjectiveThis study focuses on evaluating physician burnout related to EHR usage and the impact of a physician engagement strategy at a Canadian mental health organization 5 years after implementation. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the perceived impact of the physician engagement strategy on burnout associated with EHR use. Physicians were invited to participate in a web-based survey that included the Mini-Z Burnout questionnaire, along with questions about their perceptions of the EHR and the effectiveness of the initiatives within the physician engagement strategy. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data. ResultsOf the 254 physicians invited, 128 completed the survey, resulting in a 50% response rate. Among the respondents, 26% (33/128) met the criteria for burnout according to the Mini-Z questionnaire, with 61% (20/33) of these attributing their burnout to EHR use. About 52% of participants indicated that the EHR improves communication (67/128) and 38% agreed that the EHR enables high-quality care (49/128). Regarding the physician engagement strategy initiatives, 39% (50/128) agreed that communication through the strategy is efficient, and 75% (96/128) felt more proficient in using the EHR. However, additional areas for improvement within the EHR were identified, including (1) medication reconciliation and prescription processes; (2) chart navigation and information retrieval; (3) longitudinal medication history; and (4) technology infrastructure challenges. ConclusionsThis study highlights the potential impact of EHRs on physician burnout and the effectiveness of a unique physician engagement strategy in fostering positive perceptions and improving EHR usability among physicians. By evaluating this initiative in a real-world setting, the study contributes to the broader literature on strategies aimed at enhancing physician experience following large-scale EHR implementation. However, the findings indicate a continued need for system-level improvements to maximize the value and usage of EHRs. The physician engagement strategy demonstrates the potential to enhance physicians’ EHR experience. Future efforts should prioritize system-level advancements to increase the EHR’s impact on quality of care and develop standardized approaches for engaging physicians on a broader Canadian scale.https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2025/1/e65656 |
| spellingShingle | Tania Tajirian Brian Lo Gillian Strudwick Adam Tasca Emily Kendell Brittany Poynter Sanjeev Kumar Po-Yen (Brian) Chang Candice Kung Debbie Schachter Gwyneth Zai Michael Kiang Tamara Hoppe Sara Ling Uzma Haider Kavini Rabel Noelle Coombe Damian Jankowicz Sanjeev Sockalingam Assessing the Impact on Electronic Health Record Burden After Five Years of Physician Engagement in a Canadian Mental Health Organization: Mixed-Methods Study JMIR Human Factors |
| title | Assessing the Impact on Electronic Health Record Burden After Five Years of Physician Engagement in a Canadian Mental Health Organization: Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_full | Assessing the Impact on Electronic Health Record Burden After Five Years of Physician Engagement in a Canadian Mental Health Organization: Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Impact on Electronic Health Record Burden After Five Years of Physician Engagement in a Canadian Mental Health Organization: Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Impact on Electronic Health Record Burden After Five Years of Physician Engagement in a Canadian Mental Health Organization: Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_short | Assessing the Impact on Electronic Health Record Burden After Five Years of Physician Engagement in a Canadian Mental Health Organization: Mixed-Methods Study |
| title_sort | assessing the impact on electronic health record burden after five years of physician engagement in a canadian mental health organization mixed methods study |
| url | https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2025/1/e65656 |
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