A new study revealed that doctors and physicians were much more likely to suffer from burnout than other working professionals.
Last week we noted that doctors and medical students were at an increased risk to suffer from anxiety and depression, but the new study may be even more concerning, as fatigued doctors put the health and wellness of their patients at risk.
Burnout Study
For their study, researchers asked over 7,000 physicians to fill out a survey that asked questions about their happiness and work-life balance. Their responses were then evaluated using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which revealed:
- 45.8% of physicians reported at least one symptom of burnout.
- Physicians were 12.1% more likely to suffer from burnout than the average working adult in the US and 17% more likely to be dissatisfied with their work-life balance.
- Individuals with an MD or DO were more likely to suffer from burnout than those individuals whose highest level of education was a high school degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or Master’s Degree.
Another unrelated study found that at least one in three physicians will experience burnout at some point during their career, and some specialty areas of medicine have burnout rates as high as 40%.
“Although the practice of medicine can be incredibly meaningful and personally fulfilling, it is also demanding and stressful,” the authors wrote. “”Results of studies suggest that many physicians experience professional burnout, a syndrome characterized by a loss of enthusiasm for work, feelings of cynicism, and a low sense of personal accomplishment.”
Researchers added that burnout can have severe consequences outside the office as well.
“Burnout also seems to have adverse personal consequences for physicians, including contributions to broken relationships, problematic alcohol use, and suicidal ideation.”
Dr. Silverman comments
The problems which have been noted to be growing in frequency are finally being acknowledged. I commend these researchers for their work in this study, and for trying to bring more awareness to the issues plaguing many physicians.
The expression “Doctor Heal Thyself” is much more difficult when the disease is of mind rather than the body.
Related source: Jama Internal Medicane