Physician burnout is a significant patient safety issue. Dr. Yu-Hsuan Lin has been focusing on the issue of healthcare worker burnout since his internship and has conducted ongoing research on the physical and mental health of physicians in high-pressure environments. Over the past decade, he has published 13 related studies in international journals.

Our research explores physicians’ autonomic nervous system regulation, sleep quality, mental health, and risk of burnout. Findings indicate that long working hours and shift rotations reduce physicians’ sympathetic nerve activity, increasing the risk of cardiovascular issues, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Studies on sleep impacts have revealed that disruptions in stable sleep and REM sleep among interns adversely affect their mental health. Moreover, we found that hallucinations associated with burnout are strongly linked to professional exhaustion, suggesting these symptoms could serve as early warning signs.

Based on our findings over the years, improving physicians’ work environments, ensuring reasonable working hours, and providing adequate rest arrangements are essential for enhancing their quality of life and the quality of patient care. Additionally, our research highlights the increasing demand and workload for community-based psychiatric services as Taiwan’s mental health care shifts from hospital-based to community-centered models.

Our research on physician burnout encompasses physiological responses, mental health, systemic recommendations, and the development of tools like the “Work Hours Tracker APP,” a mobile app that automatically records work hours. These findings provide critical evidence for improving physicians’ working conditions, reducing health risks, and informing policy improvements.