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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Burnout continues to be a pervasive issue among physicians. This part of Medscape's annual Physician Lifestyle Report focuses on their responses to our survey questions about burnout and depression. How prevalent are these factors, and how do they affect physicians' lives? More than 15,000 physicians from 29 specialties responded.
Some totals in this presentation do not equal 100% due to rounding.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Allergists were the most likely among the physicians Medscape surveyed to report that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; 61% of allergists described themselves as such. Other specialists with high happiness scores included dermatologists, emergency medicine physicians, and ophthalmologists.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Allergists are not as happy at work, however. At 26%, allergists were near the middle among physicians who described themselves as "very" or "extremely" happy at work. Ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, pathologists, and dermatologists were among the happiest at work this year.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-six percent of all physicians surveyed said they are either burned out, depressed, or both. At 49%, allergists were near the top among all physician groups.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
In this year's report, as in prior years', a higher percentage of female allergists reported burnout (56%) than did their male peers (33%).
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Survey participants could choose multiple responses to the question of how they personally cope with burnout. Over half (51%) of allergist respondents said they talk to family or close friends, while 39% choose either exercise or sleep. Although 10% turn to alcohol, less than 1% said they use nicotine, marijuana, or prescription drugs.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Allergists who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. The highest percentage by far (52%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, while less than one third identified insufficient compensation (32%) or decreasing reimbursements (28%).
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Allergists, at 23%, were near the middle among all respondents who reported that they would seek professional help for burnout, depression, or both. Not surprisingly, psychiatrists were among those most likely to respond affirmatively, along with plastic surgeons, public health physicians, and pediatricians.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Allergists were asked to grade their own introversion or extroversion on a scale of 1 (very introverted) to 7 (very extroverted). About the same percentage of allergists identified as introverted (12% responded 1 or 2) or extroverted (13% responded 6 or 7).
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Allergists were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. Forty-four percent reported that they had.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most allergists reported that they are married (78%), and 3% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, 12% are single and 5% are divorced and not remarried.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nearly the same percentage of allergists reported being married to a person in the healthcare field (50%) or outside of the field (51%). Of the former 50%, 30% are married to another physician and 20% are married to a non-physician working in healthcare.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
When asked whether they have spiritual or religious beliefs, 77% of allergists responded that they do and 17% said they do not. Seven percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-three percent of allergists said they have three or fewer close friends, while more than one third (37%) said they have four to six. A gregarious 20% reported that they have seven or more close friends in their circle.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Almost half (46%) of allergists surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, while 7% take even more. The highest percentage (47%) take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-eight percent of allergists said they want to lose weight, and 37% want to maintain their current weight. Only 15% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while less than 1% would like to gain weight (shown on slide as 0% due to rounding).
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion[1] recommends 2.5 hours of moderate exercise or an hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity per week. Forty-one percent of allergists said they exercise two to three times a week, and 23% do so even more often. In contrast, 23% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and 12% said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Over half (52%) of allergists reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all. Only 14% said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
This year, physicians were asked what kind of car they drive; they could name as many as applied. Honda, at 24%, was the most popular make among allergists. Toyota (21%), Lexus (13%), and Acura (9%) were also popular.
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Allergist and Immunologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More than 19,200 physicians in over 27 specialties responded to this year's Medscape compensation survey and told about their compensation, productivity, challenges, and more.Medscape Features Slideshows, April 2017
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Contributor Information
Sarah Grisham
Freelance writer
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Disclosure: Sarah Grisham has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
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