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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Ob/Gyn 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 Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Obstetricians and gynecologists (ob/gyns) landed approximately in the middle among physicians Medscape surveyed this year who reported that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; just over half (51%) of ob/gyns described themselves as such.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Fairly small percentages of all groups described themselves as "very" or "extremely" happy at work, and ob/gyns (26%) fell below the middle among them.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn 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 50%, ob/gyns were prevalent among them. High rates were also reported by neurologists, intensivists, family physicians, and internists.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
In this year's report, a much higher percentage of female ob/gyns reported burnout (55%) than did their male peers (32%).
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Medscape Ob/Gyn 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. The highest percentages of ob/gyn respondents said they talk to family or close friends (48%) or turn to sleep or exercise (46%). Although about a quarter (26%) turn to alcohol, very few (2% or less) said they use nicotine, prescription drugs, or marijuana.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Ob/gyns who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. More than half (53%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, and 43% selected too many hours at work. Just under one third (31%) cited insufficient compensation.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Ob/gyns, at 32%, were among the most likely of all respondents to report that they would seek professional help for burnout, depression, or both. Not surprisingly, high percentages of psychiatrists responded affirmatively, along with plastic surgeons, public health physicians, and pediatricians.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Ob/gyns were asked to grade their own introversion or extroversion on a scale of 1 (very introverted) to 7 (very extroverted). A slightly higher percentage identified as extroverted (17% responded 6 or 7) than introverted (13% responded 1 or 2).
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Of ob/gyns who acknowledged having depression, 41% reported that they are more easily exasperated and 40% less engaged with staff and peers. Thirty-eight percent reported that they express their frustration in front of staff and peers, and 34% were less friendly. Just 21% responded that their depression does not affect their behavior in the workplace.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Among ob/gyns who reported depression, 38% believe that their depression has no effect on patient care. However, a similar percentage (37%) acknowledged that because of their depression, they are more easily exasperated by patients. Nine percent admitted that their depression leads to errors they wouldn't otherwise make, and 3% said they make errors that could harm patients.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Ob/gyns were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. Only 27% reported that they had.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most ob/gyns reported that they are married (76%), and 6% said they live with a partner. Nine percent are single, 8% are divorced and not remarried, and 1% are widowed.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More ob/gyns reported that they are married to a person who works outside of the healthcare field (58%) than within it (42%). Of that 42%, 20% are married to another physician and 22% are married to a non-physician working in healthcare.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
When asked whether they have spiritual or religious beliefs, 73% of ob/gyns responded that they do and 23% said they do not. Four percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More than half (52%) of ob/gyns said they have three or fewer close friends, while one third 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 Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Just over half (51%) of ob/gyns surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, and 17% take even more. Close to one third (32%), however, take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Fifty-two percent of ob/gyns said they want to lose weight, and 30% want to maintain their current weight. Only 17% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while 1% would like to gain weight.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn 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 (39%) of ob/gyns said they exercise two to three times a week, while 29% do so even more often. In contrast, 22% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and just 10% said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-three percent of ob/gyns reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all, while 18% said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn 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 19%, was the most popular make among ob/gyns. Honda (14%), BMW (12%), and Lexus (10%) were also popular.
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Ob/Gyn Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Ob/Gyn 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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