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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Physiatrist 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 Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Physiatrists landed near the middle among physicians Medscape surveyed to report that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; half of physiatrists described themselves as such. Physician groups with low happiness scores included cardiologists, public health physicians, and oncologists.
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Medscape Physiatrist 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, physiatrists (28%) were in the upper half of those who did so. Ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, and pathologists were the happiest physicians at work this year.
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Medscape Physiatrist 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 46%, physiatrists fell somewhat around the middle among them. The highest rates were reported by neurologists, intensivists, ob/gyns, family physicians, and internists.
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Medscape Physiatrist 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 physiatrists reported burnout (52%) than did their male peers (38%).
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Medscape Physiatrist 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. Sixty-one percent of physiatrist respondents said they exercise, while lower percentages talk to family or close friends (47%) or play or listen to music (38%). Although 20% turn to alcohol, very few (2% or less) said they use marijuana, nicotine, or prescription drugs.
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Physiatrists who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. Nearly two thirds (65%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, and over one quarter selected too many hours at work (28%).
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Physiatrists, at 29%, were among the more 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 Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Physiatrists 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 introverted (15% responded 1 or 2) than extroverted (13% responded 6 or 7).
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-three percent of physiatrists who acknowledged having depression reported that they vent their frustration in front of or are more easily exasperated with staff and peers as a result. Just 19% responded that their depression has no effect on these relationships.
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Among physiatrists who reported depression, 37% believe that their depression has no effect on patient care. However, around one third acknowledged that because of their depression, they are less engaged with (34%) or more easily exasperated by (32%) patients. Nineteen percent admitted that their depression leads to errors they wouldn't otherwise make, and 8% said they make errors that could harm patients.
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Physiatrists were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. Only 14% reported that they had.
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most physiatrists reported that they are married (76%), and 6% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, 11% are single, 4% are divorced and not remarried, and 2% are widowed.
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More physiatrists reported that they are married to a person who works outside of the healthcare field (57%) than within it (43%). Of that 43%, 18% are married to another physician and 25% are married to a non-physician working in the field.
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Medscape Physiatrist 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 physiatrists responded that they do and 26% said they do not. Four percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Just over half (51%) of physiatrists said they have three or fewer close friends, while more than one third (36%) 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 Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Over half (52%) of physiatrists surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, while 16% take even more. Close to one third (32%), however, take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-six percent of physiatrists said they want to lose weight, and 34% want to maintain their current weight. Only 19% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while 2% would like to gain weight.
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Medscape Physiatrist 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 physiatrists said they exercise two to three times a week, while 42% do so even more often. In contrast, 22% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and just 5% said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
About half (51%) of physiatrists reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all. Only 14% said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Physiatrist 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. Popular makes included Toyota (23%), Honda (20%), Subaru (12%), and Ford (9%).
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Physiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Physiatrist 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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