Date of Conferral

2-24-2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Patti Barrows

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed stress on healthcare systems globally, with emergency department (ED) physicians experiencing an acute impact due to their frontline role. Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment, has been widely reported by healthcare providers during the pandemic. However, the specific manifestations of burnout among ED physicians remain underexplored, particularly from their own perspectives. This study is grounded in Maslach’s Multidimensional Theory of Burnout and Alan Card’s theory of Avoidable versus Unavoidable Suffering, providing a framework to interpret ED physicians’ experiences and distinguish between the inherent challenges of frontline work and those exacerbated by preventable organizational factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative, narrative inquiry study was conducted to explore how ED physicians who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic perceive and experience manifestations of burnout. Through in-depth narrative interviews, this study captured the lived experiences of ED physicians, focusing on how burnout manifested in their lives during the pandemic. Findings revealed five themes: isolation, system inequalities, emotional exhaustion, lack of public support/trust, and moral injury. By understanding and meeting the specific needs of ED physicians, the effects of burnout can be mitigated as well as impacts on patient care and the personal lives of ED physicians.

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