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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Endocrinologist 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 Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Endocrinologists fell about in the middle among physicians Medscape surveyed who reported that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; 51% of endocrinologists described themselves as such. The physicians with the highest happiness scores this year included allergists, dermatologists, emergency medicine physicians, and ophthalmologists.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
While fairly small percentages of all physician groups described themselves as "very" or "extremely" happy at work, endocrinologists (23%) were among the least likely to do so. Cardiologists, internists, intensivists, and family physicians were also among the least happy physicians at work this year.
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Medscape Endocrinologist 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 39%, endocrinologists fell near the bottom among them. The highest rates were reported by neurologists, intensivists, ob/gyns, family physicians, and internists.
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Medscape Endocrinologist 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 endocrinologists reported burnout (40%) than did their male peers (31%).
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Medscape Endocrinologist 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. Nearly half (49%) of endocrinologist respondents said they talk to family or close friends, while somewhat lower percentages exercise (45%) or isolate themselves from others (43%). Although 14% turn to alcohol, very few said they use prescription drugs (5%) or nicotine (2%), and none reported using marijuana.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Endocrinologists who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. Close to two thirds (63%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, 40% selected too many hours at work, and 31% cited increasing computerization.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Endocrinologists, at 21%, were among the least likely of all respondents to report 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 and preventive medicine physicians, and pediatricians.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Endocrinologists were asked to grade their own introversion or extroversion on a scale of 1 (very introverted) to 7 (very extroverted). Equal percentages identified as introverted (14% responded 1 or 2) and extroverted (14% responded 6 or 7).
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Thirty percent of endocrinologists who acknowledged having depression reported that they are less engaged or more easily exasperated with staff and peers as a result. One quarter responded that their depression has no effect on these relationships.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Among endocrinologists who reported depression, 42% believe that their depression has no effect on patient care. However, just under one third acknowledged that because of their depression, they are less careful with patient notes and filling out the EHR (31%) or are more easily exasperated by patients (30%). Ten percent admitted that their depression leads to errors they wouldn't otherwise make, but no one said they make errors that could harm patients.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Endocrinologists were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. A scant 10% reported that they had.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most endocrinologists reported that they are married (77%), and 5% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, 12% are single, 6% are divorced and not remarried, and 1% are widowed.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More endocrinologists reported that they are married to a person who works outside of the healthcare field (54%) than within it (45%). Of that 45%, 23% are married to another physician and 22% are married to a non-physician working in the field.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
When asked whether they have spiritual or religious beliefs, 70% of endocrinologists responded that they do and 24% said they do not. Six percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Almost half (46%) of endocrinologists said they have three or fewer close friends, while over one third (38%) said they have four to six. A gregarious 16% reported that they have seven or more close friends in their circle.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Over half (54%) of endocrinologists surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, while 11% take even more. More than a third (35%), however, take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-two percent of endocrinologists said they want to lose weight, and nearly as many (38%) want to maintain their current weight. Only 18% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while 3% would like to gain weight.
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Medscape Endocrinologist 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. Over one third (37%) of endocrinologists said they exercise two to three times a week, while 31% do so even more often. In contrast, 20% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and just 12% said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Sixty percent of endocrinologists reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all. Only 11% said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Endocrinologist 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. The most popular makes among endocrinologists were Toyota (24%), Honda (19%), Lexus (10%), and Acura and Mercedes-Benz (9% each).
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Endocrinologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Endocrinologist 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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Sarah Grisham Freelance writer
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Disclosure: Sarah Grisham has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
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