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Home Research Research Library Electronic Health Record Usability, Satisfaction, and Burnout for Family Physicians Electronic Health Record Usability, Satisfaction, and Burnout for Family Physicians 2024 Author(s) Holmgren, A Jay, Hendrix, Nathaniel, Maisel, Natalya, Everson, Jordan, Bazemore, Andrew W, Rotenstein, Lisa S, Phillips, Robert L, and Adler-Milstein, Julia Topic(s) Family Medicine Certification, Role of Primary Care, and Achieving Health System Goals Keyword(s) Health Information Technology (HIT), and Physician Experience (Burnout / Satisfaction) Volume JAMA Network Open Source JAMA Network Open OBJECTIVES To measure family physician satisfaction with their EHR and EHR usability across functions and evaluate the association of EHR usability with satisfaction and burnout, as well as the moderating association of 4 team and technology EHR efficiency strategies. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This study uses data from a cross-sectional survey conducted from December 12, 2021, to October 17, 2022, of all family physicians seeking American Board of Family Medicine recertification in 2022. EXPOSURE Physicians perceived EHR usability across 6 domains, as well as adoption of 4 EHR efficiency strategies: scribes, support from other staff, templated text, and voice recognition or transcription. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Physician EHR satisfaction and frequency of experiencing burnout measured with a single survey item (“I feel burned out from my work”), with answers ranging from “never” to “every day.” RESULTS Of the 2067 physicians (1246 [60.3%] younger than 50 years; 1051 men [50.9%]; and 1729 [86.0%] practicing in an urban area) who responded to the survey, 562 (27.2%) were very satisfied and 775 (37.5%) were somewhat satisfied, while 346 (16.7%) were somewhat dissatisfied and 198 (9.6%) were very dissatisfied with their EHR. Readability of information had the highest usability, with 543 physicians (26.3%) rating it as excellent, while usefulness of alerts had the lowest usability, with 262 physicians (12.7%) rating it as excellent. In multivariable models, good or excellent usability for entering data (β = 0.09 [95% CI, 0.05-0.14]; P < .001), alignment with workflow processes (β = 0.11 [95% CI, 0.06-0.16]; P < .001), ease of finding information (β = 0.14 [95% CI, 0.09-0.19]; P < .001), and usefulness of alerts (β = 0.11 [95% CI, 0.06-0.16]; P < .001) were associated with physicians being very satisfied with their EHR. In addition, being very satisfied with the EHR was associated with reduced frequency of burnout (β = −0.64 [95% CI, −1.06 to −0.22]; P < .001). In moderation analysis, only physicians with highly usable EHRs saw improvements in satisfaction from adopting efficiency strategies. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this survey study of physician EHR usability and satisfaction, approximately one-fourth of family physicians reported being very satisfied with their EHR, while another one-fourth reported being somewhat or very dissatisfied, a concerning finding amplified by the inverse association between EHR satisfaction and burnout. Electronic health record–based alerts Read More ABFM Research Read all 2013 The rise of electronic health record adoption among family physicians Go to The rise of electronic health record adoption among family physicians 2025 Heterogeneity of diagnosis and documentation of post-COVID conditions in primary care: A machine learning analysis Go to Heterogeneity of diagnosis and documentation of post-COVID conditions in primary care: A machine learning analysis 2007 Recommendations and considerations related to preparticipation screening for cardiovascular abnormalities in competitive athletes: 2007 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism: endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation Go to Recommendations and considerations related to preparticipation screening for cardiovascular abnormalities in competitive athletes: 2007 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism: endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation 2013 Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery Go to Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery
Author(s) Holmgren, A Jay, Hendrix, Nathaniel, Maisel, Natalya, Everson, Jordan, Bazemore, Andrew W, Rotenstein, Lisa S, Phillips, Robert L, and Adler-Milstein, Julia Topic(s) Family Medicine Certification, Role of Primary Care, and Achieving Health System Goals Keyword(s) Health Information Technology (HIT), and Physician Experience (Burnout / Satisfaction) Volume JAMA Network Open Source JAMA Network Open
ABFM Research Read all 2013 The rise of electronic health record adoption among family physicians Go to The rise of electronic health record adoption among family physicians 2025 Heterogeneity of diagnosis and documentation of post-COVID conditions in primary care: A machine learning analysis Go to Heterogeneity of diagnosis and documentation of post-COVID conditions in primary care: A machine learning analysis 2007 Recommendations and considerations related to preparticipation screening for cardiovascular abnormalities in competitive athletes: 2007 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism: endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation Go to Recommendations and considerations related to preparticipation screening for cardiovascular abnormalities in competitive athletes: 2007 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism: endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation 2013 Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery Go to Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery
2013 The rise of electronic health record adoption among family physicians Go to The rise of electronic health record adoption among family physicians
2025 Heterogeneity of diagnosis and documentation of post-COVID conditions in primary care: A machine learning analysis Go to Heterogeneity of diagnosis and documentation of post-COVID conditions in primary care: A machine learning analysis
2007 Recommendations and considerations related to preparticipation screening for cardiovascular abnormalities in competitive athletes: 2007 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism: endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation Go to Recommendations and considerations related to preparticipation screening for cardiovascular abnormalities in competitive athletes: 2007 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism: endorsed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation
2013 Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery Go to Family physicians are essential for mental health care delivery