Abstract

The last decade of research on stress and burnout shows that these issues continue to be important concerns for healthcare organization researchers, employers, and clinical practitioners. This is evident given that healthcare providers are experiencing an increase in burnout counter to trends in the general U.S. working population. This chapter begins by exploring two emerging stressors: (a) use of health information communication technologies (HICTs) and (b) health system restructuring related to mergers and acquisitions and physical space. Then, we consider enduring stressors among healthcare providers, including interpersonal communication (patient, team, and interprofessional) and role stress. Next, this chapter discusses dimensions and outcomes of burnout within healthcare professions. Following this review, we explore research literature regarding the functions and sources of supportive communication that may help mitigate provider job stress and burnout. Finally, we offer ideas for future research, including the need for more communication-based research on stress, burnout, and social support in health professions; more attention to the effects of HICTs; and research on experiences of females and underrepresented groups in the health professions.