Burnout among Chinese healthcare professionals as affected by artificial intelligence

With burnout becoming an “epidemic” among healthcare professionals, previous research has explored various factors influencing burnout, such as gender, age, marital status, working hours, and social support. However, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on burnout in frontline medical practice remains underexplored. This study utilizes an online survey (n = 416) to investigate whether specific AI-assisted healthcare applications amplify or alleviate three dimensions of burnout in Chinese healthcare professionals: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced accomplishment. The results indicate that Chinese healthcare professionals perceived the risk of AI as positively associated with overall burnout. In contrast, their perceived ease of use and usefulness of AI are negatively correlated with personal accomplishment. Moreover, those utilizing AI-assisted surgery and treatment report lower accomplishment levels. This study provides insights into redefining professional value for healthcare professionals in the AI era, contributing to the broader discussion on technology’s role in reshaping human work and identity.