Table 2. Comparison of Survey Responses Pre-/Post-Implementation of Character Count Limit in June 2023.
Survey Items*Pre Mean (SE)Post Mean (SE)Difference (SE)P-value
Mini Z Items
Job satisfaction3.88 (0.08)3.72 (0.11)-0.15 (0.14)0.28
Job Stress3.64 (0.11)3.58 (0.1)-0.06 (0.15)0.69
Burnout2.56 (0.09)2.58 (0.11)0.02 (0.14)0.91
Control over my workload2.66 (0.1)2.71 (0.12)0.05 (0.16)0.76
Documentation Time Sufficiency2.34 (0.12)2.38 (0.12)0.04 (0.17)0.81
Work area chaos3.2 (0.11)3.26 (0.08)0.06 (0.14)0.65
Alignment of Professional values with department leaders3.83 (0.09)3.67 (0.12)-0.16 (0.15)0.30
Care team efficiency3.41 (0.1)3.51 (0.11)0.09 (0.15)0.53
Time spent in EMR at home2.28 (0.14)2.2 (0.13)-0.07 (0.19)0.70
Mini Z score27.79 (0.28)27.61 (0.38)-0.18 (0.47)0.71
E-Message Burden Items§
Less work to communicate with patients via patient e-messages 3 (0.08)3 (0.09)0 (0.12)1.00
Patient e-messages are too long 3.28 (0.08)3.14 (0.08)-0.14 (0.11)0.20
Patients send e-messages too frequently 3.38 (0.07)3.33 (0.07)-0.04 (0.1)0.66
Patient e-messages are too complex 3.45 (0.07)3.3 (0.07)-0.15 (0.09)0.11
Patient e-messages are a source of stress # 4.14 (0.08)3.91 (0.1)-0.23 (0.13)0.08
Patient e-messages enhance my relationship with patients# 3.34 (0.09)3.36 (0.12)0.02 (0.15)0.87
My work schedule leaves me enough time for my personal and/or family life# 2.79 (0.12)2.7 (0.12)-0.1 (0.17)0.56

* The survey items were based on the Mini Z burnout inventory and other similar surveys.1,4,7,8

Mean Likert scale responses pre-/post- were compared using unadjusted linear regression.

Higher Mini Z responses are more favorable. Mini Z items are based on a 5-point Likert scale.

§ Higher patient e-message responses indicate a higher level of agreement with the statement.

Items are based on a 4-point Likert scale.

# Items are based on a 5-point Likert scale.