The COVID-19 pandemic affected physicians in a number of ways, according to Medscape's "Orthopedist Burnout & Happiness Report 2021."
Medscape surveyed 12,339 physicians in more than 29 specialties from Aug. 30, 2020, through Nov. 5, 2020. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout figures remained relatively stable, but the pandemic did affect some specialties more than others.
Here are five insights related to orthopedist happiness and physician burnout:
1. Eighty-six percent of orthopedists said they were happiest outside of work before the pandemic. The pandemic changed that, and now only 66 percent of orthopedists said they were happiest outside of work.
2. Eighteen percent of orthopedists said they were burned out, 3 percent said they were depressed, and 16 percent said they were both burned out and depressed. Yet, 64 percent said they were neither burned out nor depressed.
3. Fifty percent of orthopedists said burnout had a strong effect on their life.
4. Despite the pandemic elevating several trends, 88 percent of orthopedists said their burnout started before the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Five elements contributed to burnout more than anything else: too many bureaucratic tasks (62 percent), lack of respect from administrators/employers and colleagues or staff (37 percent), insufficient compensation (37 percent), spending too many hours at work (31 percent) and lack of control/autonomy (30 percent).