Here are five points on physician burnout from the Medscape 2013 Physician Lifestyles — Linking to Burnout Survey. 1. Around 40 percent of orthopedic surgeon respondents reported "physician burnout," defined as a "loss of enthusiasm for work, feelings of cynicism and a low sense of personal accomplishment." Despite nearly half of orthopedic respondents reporting burnout, orthopedics was in the middle of the pack; highest burnout rates were reported among emergency medicine and critical care while the lowest were among ophthalmology and pediatrics.
2. On a scale of one to seven, with one being that burnout doesn't interfere with the physician's life and seven being the physician is considering leaving medicine, orthopedic surgeons on average reported being around 3.5. However, the highest average level was only around four, reported by Ob/Gyn and Women's Health physicians. Orthopedic surgeons were on the low end of the spectrum, reporting similar burnout symptoms to oncologists, pediatric physicians and gastroenterologists.
3. While there were several reported causes for the burnout, physicians readily rated "too many bureaucratic tasks" as the most important factor, rating its importance as 5.5 on a seven-point scale. The second and third most important factors were reported as "spending too many hours at work" and "present and future impact of Affordable Care Act" respectively. Women also reported being more burnt out than men, as 45 percent of female physicians reported burnout, compared to 40 percent of men.
4. Older and younger physicians reported lower rates of burnout than middle-aged physicians, with the highest burnout rate reported among 46- to 55-year-olds, at 32 percent. These trends could be attributed to older surgeons cutting back hours or learning better ways to cope with professional life, according to the report. Physicians who reported burnout said their happiness was at about a 3.5 on a seven-point scale while at work, and that rose to a 5.5 outside of work. Physicians who didn't report burnout were right around 5.5 happiness levels in both situations, though a little happier when not at work.
5. Physicians who reported burnout rated their physical health on average just above five on a six point scale, while physicians who reported no burnout were just below six. Physicians who reported no burnout were also more likely to exercise, and more likely to exercise more than once per week. However, about 40 percent of the physicians reporting burnout said they exercised once per week at most. Physicians reporting burnout were more likely to be overweight or obese, with 45 percent also reporting BMI of 25 or higher, compared to 40 percent who did not report burnout.
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2. On a scale of one to seven, with one being that burnout doesn't interfere with the physician's life and seven being the physician is considering leaving medicine, orthopedic surgeons on average reported being around 3.5. However, the highest average level was only around four, reported by Ob/Gyn and Women's Health physicians. Orthopedic surgeons were on the low end of the spectrum, reporting similar burnout symptoms to oncologists, pediatric physicians and gastroenterologists.
3. While there were several reported causes for the burnout, physicians readily rated "too many bureaucratic tasks" as the most important factor, rating its importance as 5.5 on a seven-point scale. The second and third most important factors were reported as "spending too many hours at work" and "present and future impact of Affordable Care Act" respectively. Women also reported being more burnt out than men, as 45 percent of female physicians reported burnout, compared to 40 percent of men.
4. Older and younger physicians reported lower rates of burnout than middle-aged physicians, with the highest burnout rate reported among 46- to 55-year-olds, at 32 percent. These trends could be attributed to older surgeons cutting back hours or learning better ways to cope with professional life, according to the report. Physicians who reported burnout said their happiness was at about a 3.5 on a seven-point scale while at work, and that rose to a 5.5 outside of work. Physicians who didn't report burnout were right around 5.5 happiness levels in both situations, though a little happier when not at work.
5. Physicians who reported burnout rated their physical health on average just above five on a six point scale, while physicians who reported no burnout were just below six. Physicians who reported no burnout were also more likely to exercise, and more likely to exercise more than once per week. However, about 40 percent of the physicians reporting burnout said they exercised once per week at most. Physicians reporting burnout were more likely to be overweight or obese, with 45 percent also reporting BMI of 25 or higher, compared to 40 percent who did not report burnout.
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