Organizational challenges persist, and new research directions emerge in the study of burnout in healthcare: Bibliometric analysis

Carla W Irigoyen-Amparan; Karen D Gonzalez; Arunkumar Pennathur; Bibiana Mancera; Priyadarshini R Pennathur

doi:10.1177/22799036251395259

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Organizational challenges persist, and new research directions emerge in the study of burnout in healthcare: Bibliometric analysis

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Organizational challenges persist, and new research directions emerge in the study of burnout in healthcare: Bibliometric analysis

Carla W Irigoyen-Amparan, Karen D Gonzalez, Arunkumar Pennathur, Bibiana Mancera and Priyadarshini R Pennathur

Journal of public health research, Vol.14(4), pp.1-17

10/2025

DOI: 10.1177/22799036251395259

PMCID: PMC12638692

PMID: 41281926

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Abstract

Between 35% and 45% of nurses and 40%-54% of physicians in the United States experienced burnout over the past decade, underscoring the need to examine trends and patterns in healthcare burnout research to identify contributors and formulate recommendations. Our objectives were to (1) understand whether the problem of burnout is widespread and studied globally, (2) assess the extent of research collaboration, (3) examine the focus of healthcare burnout themes prior to 2019 and after 2019 and assess similarities between themes to identify persistent problems, and (4) assess differences in themes to identify new research directions triggered by COVID-19. We performed a literature search in Web of Science, followed by bibliometric and manual comparative analyses of publications data. We analyzed trends in publications, countries, and organizations where healthcare burnout was studied, constructed co-authorship networks, and evaluated theme similarities and differences between the periods. Studies have investigated longstanding system and organizational problems, including poor workplace conditions and unsupportive leadership and management, as contributors to burnout. Research collaborations on healthcare burnout across countries have increased post-pandemic. Studies conducted after 2019 have investigated new research directions, including workplace adaptations, workplace aggression, and emerging technologies such as virtual reality. Our findings indicate that workplace conditions and organizational factors such as leadership and management remain persistent challenges, with workplace violence and workplace aggression increasingly associated with burnout. Design improvements to the work system and emerging technologies hold promise as interventions for preventing and mitigating burnout.

Burnout

COVID-19

workplace stressors

organizational factors

workplace aggression

emerging technology

healthcare

Details

Title: Subtitle: Organizational challenges persist, and new research directions emerge in the study of burnout in healthcare: Bibliometric analysis
Creators: Carla W Irigoyen-Amparan - The University of Texas at El Paso
Karen D Gonzalez - The University of Texas at El Paso
Arunkumar Pennathur - The University of Texas at El Paso
Bibiana Mancera - The University of Texas at El Paso
Priyadarshini R Pennathur - The University of Texas at El Paso
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of public health research, Vol.14(4), pp.1-17
DOI: 10.1177/22799036251395259
PMID: 41281926
PMCID: PMC12638692
NLM abbreviation: J Public Health Res
ISSN: 2279-9028
eISSN: 2279-9036
Publisher: Sage
Grant note: Startup Funding: The University of Texas at El Paso
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by a STAR grant awarded by the University of Texas System to the last author.
Language: English
Date published: 10/2025
Academic Unit: Nursing
Record Identifier: 9985035031402771

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