Digital Burnout and Electronic Documentation Burden among Hospital Nurses

Abstract

Electronic health records have improved access to clinical information and continuity of care; however, excessive documentation demands and inefficient digital systems may increase documentation burden and contribute to technology-related burnout among nurses. Objective: To assess digital burnout and electronic documentation burden among hospital nurses and identify documentation- and system-related factors associated with high digital burnout. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary-care hospitals in Kuwait from July to December 2025. A total of 100 registered nurses routinely using electronic systems for clinical documentation were recruited through non-probability consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic and professional characteristics, electronic documentation workload, system-related factors, documentation burden, and digital burnout. Data were analyzed using appropriate inferential tests, correlation analysis, and multivariable binary logistic regression to identify factors independently associated with high digital burnout. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 30.7±6.1 years, and 67 (67.0%) were female. Nurses spent a mean of 3.1±1.2 hours per shift on electronic documentation, with 44 (44.0%) spending >3 hours. Duplicate documentation, system-related interruptions, and after-duty documentation were reported by 58 (58.0%), 63 (63.0%), and 55 (55.0%) nurses, respectively. High documentation burden was observed in 39 (39.0%), while 42 (42.0%) experienced high digital burnout. Documentation burden showed a moderate positive correlation with digital burnout (r=0.58, p<0.001). High documentation burden (aOR=3.42, 95% CI: 1.43–8.19), documentation >3 hours per shift (aOR=2.61, 95% CI: 1.10–6.20), and frequent system-related interruptions (aOR=2.47, 95% CI: 1.02–5.98) were independently associated with high digital burnout. Conclusion: Digital burnout was common among hospital nurses and was independently associated with greater documentation burden, prolonged documentation time, and frequent system-related interruptions. Optimizing electronic documentation workflows and system efficiency may help reduce technology-related occupational strain among nurses.