Burnout Is Real – So Is This Simple Intervention to Help Prevent It

Addressing the pervasive crisis of professional burnout—a 2022 study revealed a 63% burnout rate among U.S. medical doctors, with moderate to high emotional exhaustion also reported by chiropractors—this article introduces a remarkably simple yet powerful intervention: the use of a smartwatch. A recent randomized clinical trial tracked 184 physicians and found that giving doctors a way to monitor their own physiological data, such as heart rate, sleep cycles, and step count, led to a 54.0% reduction in the odds of overall burnout after six months. This intervention not only reduced burnout but also improved resilience scores beyond that seen in previous studies, with well-being gains sustained for a full 12 months. By providing quantitative measures of physiological functioning, the smartwatch promoted greater self-awareness and self-regulation, which are key components of overall well-being. The central lesson for Doctors of Chiropractic is profoundly important: Be your own best patient. By taking their own health seriously, DCs can teach by example, provide care for many years, and avoid the negative downstream effects of burnout, such as increased medical errors, malpractice litigation, and lost productivity.