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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Otolaryngologist 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 Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Otolaryngologists landed close to the middle among all physicians Medscape surveyed who reported that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; 51% of otolaryngologists described themselves as such.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist 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, otolaryngologists (25%) fell in the lower half among them. Cardiologists, internists, intensivists, and family physicians also scored low in this area.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist 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%, otolaryngologists fell somewhat below the middle among them. The highest rates were reported by neurologists, intensivists, ob/gyns, family physicians, and internists.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist 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 otolaryngologists reported burnout (52%) than did their male peers (38%).
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Medscape Otolaryngologist 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 (53%) of otolaryngologist respondents said they exercise, while somewhat lower percentages talk to family or close friends (49%) or sleep (46%). Although 29% turn to alcohol, very few (4% or less) said they use marijuana, prescription drugs, or nicotine.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Otolaryngologists who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. The highest percentage by far (61%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, and 39% selected too many hours at work. Close to one third cited a lack of control or autonomy (32%) and increasing computerization (30%).
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Otolaryngologists, at 22%, were among those respondents least likely 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 Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Otolaryngologists were asked to grade their own introversion or extroversion on a scale of 1 (very introverted) to 7 (very extroverted). Nearly double the percentage identified as extroverted (17% responded 6 or 7) compared with introverted (9% responded 1 or 2).
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Otolaryngologists were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. Less than a third (29%) reported that they had.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most otolaryngologists reported that they are married (79%), and 3% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, 10% are single, 5% are divorced and not remarried, and 2% are widowed.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More otolaryngologists reported that they are married to a person who works outside of the healthcare field (54%) than to someone within it (46%). That 46% is evenly divided among those who are married to another physician and those married to a non-physician working in healthcare.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
When asked whether they have spiritual or religious beliefs, two thirds of otolaryngologists responded that they do and 27% said they do not. Eight percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-three percent of otolaryngologists said they have three or fewer close friends, and well over one third (38%) said they have four to six. A gregarious 19% reported that they have seven or more close friends in their circle.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Over half (58%) of otolaryngologists surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, and 14% take even more. More than a quarter (27%), however, take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Thirty-eight percent of otolaryngologists said they want to lose weight, and slightly more (42%) want to maintain their current weight. Only 19% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while 1% would like to gain weight.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist 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 otolaryngologists said they exercise two to three times a week, while 35% do so even more often. In contrast, just 17% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and a scant 7% said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Well over one third (39%) of otolaryngologists reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all, while 20% said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist 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 18%, was the most popular make among otolaryngologists. Toyota (14%), Lexus (13%), and Ford (11%) were also popular.
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Otolaryngologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Otolaryngologist 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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