New UCLA Research Shows Small Group Coaching Reduces Physician Burnout

Recent research from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) indicates that small group coaching can significantly decrease burnout rates among physicians, with reductions nearing 30%. This finding highlights a more cost-effective alternative to traditional one-on-one coaching methods.

Burnout, characterized by emotional fatigue, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment, affects nearly half of all physicians in the United States. Such conditions can have detrimental effects on patient care and overall healthcare outcomes, as noted by Dr. Joshua Khalili, a key researcher and director of physician wellness at UCLA's Department of Medicine.

Despite the high prevalence of burnout, most existing research has focused on individual coaching interventions, which can be prohibitively expensive and limit widespread adoption. The study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, explores the efficacy of group coaching as a viable solution to this pressing issue.

The financial implications of physician burnout are staggering, costing the U.S. healthcare system approximately $4.6 billion annually due to physician turnover and a reduction in clinical hours.

To assess the impact of small group coaching, researchers conducted a randomized, controlled trial involving 79 internal medicine physicians at UCLA over a period of more than a year, beginning in March 2023. Participants were divided into three groups: one-third received individual coaching via Zoom, another third participated in small group sessions with three physicians and one coach, while the remaining third was a control group that initially received no coaching.

Key metrics evaluated included overall burnout, work-life balance, engagement, self-efficacy, and social support. These were measured before and after the coaching sessions, as well as six months post-intervention.

Results revealed that those in the small group coaching experienced a nearly 30% decrease in burnout rates, while the individual coaching group saw a reduction of 13.5%. In contrast, the control group exhibited an 11% increase in burnout levels. Notably, the small group participants maintained reduced burnout rates, and the one-on-one coaching group continued to show improvements even six months after the intervention.

The cost of coaching also varied significantly: individual sessions were priced at $1,000 per participant, while small group sessions cost only $400. Dr. Khalili emphasized that this innovative small group coaching model could drastically improve physician well-being while being more affordable than traditional coaching methods.

Despite the promising findings, the study faced limitations, including potential selection bias among participants who might benefit most from the intervention. Additionally, the baseline burnout rates were higher in the small group coaching arm compared to the one-on-one group, yet the relative reductions were comparable.

Moving forward, the UCLA team is implementing coaching for its Department of Medicine physicians and encourages other healthcare institutions to adopt similar professional coaching strategies. Dr. Khalili highlighted that enhancing the well-being and engagement of physicians is crucial for improving patient care quality, framing it as a public health imperative.

For further details, refer to the article titled Professional Coaching to Reduce Physician Burnout: A Randomized Clinical Trial in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.