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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Nephrologist 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 Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Being a nephrologist appears to bring challenges. Nephrologists were among the least likely physicians Medscape surveyed to report that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work. Less than half (47%) of nephrologists described themselves as such. Other specialists with low happiness scores included cardiologists, public health physicians, and oncologists.
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nephrologists (26%) are near the middle among physicians who described themselves as "very" or "extremely" happy at work. Ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, pathologists, and dermatologists were at the top this year.
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Medscape Nephrologist 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 45%, nephrologists fell close to the middle among all specialists. The highest rates were reported by neurologists, intensivists, ob/gyns, and family physicians.
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Medscape Nephrologist 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 nephrologists reported burnout (46%) than did their male peers (37%).
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Medscape Nephrologist 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. More than half (54%) of nephrologist respondents said they exercise, while somewhat lower percentages talk to family or close friends (46%) or play or listen to music (44%). Although 13% turn to alcohol, very few (3% or less) said they use prescription drugs, nicotine, or marijuana.
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nephrologists who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. More than half (53%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, and 40% selected too many hours at work. Just over one quarter (26%) cited increasing computerization or lack of respect from administrators, employers, colleagues, or staff.
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nephrologists, at 20%, 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 physicians, and pediatricians.
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nephrologists were asked to grade their own introversion or extroversion on a scale of 1 (very introverted) to 7 (very extroverted). A slightly lower percentage identified as introverted (8% responded 1 or 2) than extroverted (10% responded 6 or 7).
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nephrologists were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. Only 12% reported that they had.
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most nephrologists reported that they are married (80%), and 4% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, 10% are single, 4% are divorced and not remarried, and less than 1% are widowed (shown as 0% on slide due to rounding).
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More nephrologists reported that they are married to a person in the healthcare field (60%) than to someone outside the field (40%). Of the 60%, 38% are married to another physician and 22% are married to a non-physician working in healthcare.
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Medscape Nephrologist 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 nephrologists responded that they do and 21% said they do not. Ten percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Over half (54%) of nephrologists said they have three or fewer close friends, while just over one third (35%) said they have four to six. A gregarious 12% reported that they have seven or more close friends in their circle.
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nearly half (48%) of nephrologists surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, while 19% take even more. One third, however, take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-five percent of nephrologists said they want to lose weight, and about one third (34%) want to maintain their current weight. Only 19% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while 3% would like to gain weight.
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Medscape Nephrologist 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 (38%) of nephrologists said they exercise two to three times a week, while 29% do so even more often. Seventeen percent reported that they exercise once a week or less or that they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Sixty-one percent of nephrologists reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all. Just 9% said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Nephrologist 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 nephrologists were Toyota (21%), Honda (16%), and Mercedes-Benz and BMW (each selected by 10% of respondents).
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Nephrologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Nephrologist 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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