What the study found
The study found that burnout among general practitioners in Norway increased substantially between 2012 and 2024. In 2024, burnout was linked with low job satisfaction, high work-related stress, and frequent sickness presenteeism, meaning working while sick.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that addressing modifiable factors such as work-related stress, job satisfaction, and sickness presenteeism is essential for sustaining physician well-being and maintaining patient care quality. They also note that burnout has implications for healthcare system sustainability.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used data from the Norwegian Physician Panel, a nationally representative survey from 2012, 2018, and 2024, and included only respondents who identified as general practitioners. Burnout was measured with the Maslach Burnout Index, and logistic regression was used in 2024 to examine associations with age, sex, weekly work hours, self-rated health, sick leave, presenteeism, job satisfaction, and work-related stress.
What worked and what didn't
Overall burnout rose from 5.8% in 2012 to 17.1% in 2018 and 21.8% in 2024. High emotional exhaustion increased from 19.1% to 47.2%, high depersonalisation from 2% to 24%, and low personal accomplishment became less common, falling from 16.4% to 6.3%; in 2024, burnout was significantly associated with low job satisfaction, high work-related stress, and frequent sickness presenteeism.
What to keep in mind
The abstract reports associations for 2024 but does not describe causal effects. It also does not provide detailed results for every tested factor, and no specific limitations are described in the available summary.
Key points
- Burnout among Norwegian general practitioners increased from 5.8% in 2012 to 21.8% in 2024.
- High emotional exhaustion rose from 19.1% to 47.2% over the same period.
- High depersonalisation increased from 2% to 24%, while low personal accomplishment became less common.
- In 2024, burnout was significantly associated with low job satisfaction, high work-related stress, and frequent sickness presenteeism.
- The study used nationally representative survey data from 2012, 2018, and 2024.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Burnout among Norwegian GPs rose from 2012 to 2024
- Authors:
- Karin Isaksson Rø, Cilla Lyng Hyldig, Priyanthi B. Gjerde
- Institutions:
- NORCE Research AS, NORCE Research AS, University of Bergen
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-14
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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