Interventions for burnout among health profession students and trainees: Systematic review and implications for well-being work

Authors

• Lauren R. Muñoz, Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, Department of Health Policy and Management, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Alys R. Barton, Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, Department of Health Policy and Management, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.
• Jordan R. Herring, Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, Department of Health Policy and Management, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.
• Randl Dent, Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, Department of Health Policy and Management, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.
• Patricia Pittman, Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, Department of Health Policy and Management, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-10-2026

Journal

Nursing outlook

Volume

74

Issue

3

DOI

10.1016/j.outlook.2026.102761

Keywords

Burnout; Health care; Intervention research; Students and trainees

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Burnout among health professionals often begins in their education and training, yet knowledge about impactful interventions for students and trainees is limited. PURPOSE: We investigated interventions for burnout in health profession students and trainees, excluding physicians-in-training. METHODS: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we searched 11 databases for peer-reviewed articles and hand-searched articles contained in captured literature reviews. Articles were screened and extracted in Covidence and appraised using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. FINDINGS: Of 4,535 articles screened, 31 met inclusion criteria. Interventions targeted nursing (51.6%), pharmacy (19.4%), social work (9.7%), and other professions (19.4%). Mindfulness-based strategies (67.7%) and curriculum change (29.0%) predominated. Over half (54.8%) reported significant reductions in at least one burnout dimension at one or more timepoints. Only nine studies (29.0%) were high quality. DISCUSSION: This review indicates a need for higher-quality research designs and a greater focus on organization and system-level interventions.

APA Citation

Muñoz, Lauren R.; Barton, Alys R.; Herring, Jordan R.; Dent, Randl; and Pittman, Patricia, "Interventions for burnout among health profession students and trainees: Systematic review and implications for well-being work" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 9077.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/9077

Department

Health Policy and Management