# Caring for the caregiver: predictors and consequences of VA mental health provider burnout

> **NIH VA I01** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Background: Mental health providers (MHPs), who are "mission critical" for the VHA, report the second
highest level of burnout after primary care physicians. MHP burnout may be associated with negative system-
level factors (organizational climate, workgroup perceptions, and supervisory behaviors), provider experiences
(engagement, satisfaction, and turnover) and patient outcomes (access to, continuity of, experience of care).
VHA has yet to conduct a systematic facility-level study identifying predictors and consequences of MHP
burnout. This study will address HSR&D priorities focused on health care systems change, the impact of
organizational and provider factors associated with quality of care for Veterans, and improving employee
engagement. Objectives: This pre-implementation study aims to characterize variation in MHP burnout by
facility over time, identifying workplace characteristics and practices of high performing facilities that can be
translated for potential implementation at facilities with room for improvement. Aim 1: to examine facility-
level predictors and consequences of VHA MHP burnout; Aim 2: to understand VHA MHP leadership and
front-line provider perspectives regarding factors that protect against or exacerbate burnout in facilities with
differing levels of burnout; and Aim 3: to identify context-sensitive strategies for facilities to successfully
reduce VHA MHP burnout. Methods: Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods study, a two-phase
design with quantitative data collection and analysis followed by qualitative data collection and analysis, and
subsequent integration, we will evaluate factors that influence MHP burnout and their effects on patient
outcomes. We will compile annual survey data on workplace conditions and annual staffing and productivity
data between FY2014 and FY2018 to assess same and subsequent year provider and patient outcomes
reflecting provider and patient experiences. The All Employee Survey (AES) is an annual organizational census
of workplace perceptions and satisfaction. The Mental Health Provider Survey (MHPS) is an annual survey to
assess MHP perceptions about access to and quality of mental health care, and job satisfaction. The Mental
Health Outpatient Clinical method tracks MHP inpatient and outpatient clinical hours and productivity. We
will examine MHP job satisfaction and patient experience metrics using the Strategic Analytics for
Improvement and Learning (SAIL) Mental Health domain, the VHA's quality monitoring system. Facility
complexity level is measured using a five level indicator based on patient risk, number of specialists, volume,
and level of teaching and research, including mental health program characteristics. By linking these data
sources, we will quantify predictors of burnout and the impact of burnout on patient outcomes. We will
conduct interviews with mental health facility leadership and front-line MHPs, intentionally sampled using
facility-level MHP burnout. We wil...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11072955
- **Project number:** 5I01HX002553-05
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Kara Zivin
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-12-01 → 2024-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11072955

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11072955, Caring for the caregiver: predictors and consequences of VA mental health provider burnout (5I01HX002553-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11072955. Licensed CC0.

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