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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Gastroenterologist 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 Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Gastroenterologists were above the middle among physicians Medscape surveyed to report that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; 53% of gastroenterologists described themselves as such. Other specialists with high happiness scores included allergists, dermatologists, emergency medicine physicians, and ophthalmologists.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist 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, gastroenterologists (33%) were among the most likely to do so. Ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, pathologists, and dermatologists were the happiest physicians this year at work.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist 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 44%, gastroenterologists fell somewhat below the middle among all physician groups. The highest rates were reported by neurologists, intensivists, ob/gyns, and family physicians.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
A slightly higher percentage of male gastroenterologists reported burnout (39%) than did their female peers (37%).
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Medscape Gastroenterologist 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. About one half of gastroenterologist respondents said they talk to family or close friends (51%) or exercise (50%), while just over one third resort to sleep (34%). Although 15% turn to alcohol, very few (1% or less) said they use prescription drugs, marijuana, or nicotine.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Gastroenterologists who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. Well over half (57%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, and more than a third (38%) selected too many hours at work. Twenty-eight percent cited increasing computerization.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Gastroenterologists, at 22%, are in the lower half 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 physicians, and pediatricians.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Gastroenterologists were asked to grade their own introversion or extroversion on a scale of 1 (very introverted) to 7 (very extroverted). A higher percentage identified as extroverted (19% responded 6 or 7) versus introverted (7% responded 1 or 2).
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Less than half of gastroenterologists who acknowledged having depression reported that they are more easily exasperated (42%), less engaged (41%), or less friendly (37%) with staff and peers as a result. Just 22% responded that their depression has no such effect.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Among gastroenterologists who reported depression, 42% believe that their depression has no effect on patient care. However, more than one third (35%) acknowledged that because of their depression, they are more easily exasperated by patients, while 29% felt less engaged with patients. Sixteen percent admitted that their depression leads to errors they wouldn't otherwise make, and 2% said they make errors that could harm patients.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Gastroenterologists were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. Only 22% reported that they had.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most gastroenterologists reported that they are married (82%), and 4% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, 8% are single, 4% are divorced and not remarried, and 2% are widowed.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More gastroenterologists reported that they are married to a person in the healthcare field (53%) than to someone outside the field (47%). Of the 53%, 27% are married to another physician and 26% are married to a non-physician working in healthcare.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
When asked whether they have spiritual or religious beliefs, 69% of gastroenterologists responded that they do and 25% said they do not. Six percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Half of gastroenterologists said they have three or fewer close friends, while slightly more than one third (35%) said they have four to six. A gregarious 15% reported that they have seven or more close friends in their circle.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Just over half (52%) of gastroenterologists surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, while 16% take even more. One third, however, take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-three percent of gastroenterologists said they want to lose weight, and 34% want to maintain their current weight. Only 21% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while 1% would like to gain weight.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist 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. Thirty-two percent of gastroenterologists said they exercise two to three times a week, and one third do so even more often. In contrast, 18% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and the same percentage said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nearly half (47%) of gastroenterologists reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all. Nineteen percent said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist 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. Toyota, at 18%, was the most popular make among gastroenterologists. Honda (17%), Lexus (14%), and BMW and Mercedes-Benz (10%) were also popular.
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Gastroenterologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Gastroenterologist 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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