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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon 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 Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Plastic surgeons were among the most likely physicians Medscape surveyed to report that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; 56% of plastic surgeons described themselves as such. Other physicians with high happiness scores included allergists, dermatologists, emergency medicine physicians, and ophthalmologists.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
While fairly small percentages of all specialist groups described themselves as "very" or "extremely" happy at work, plastic surgeons (35%) were among the most likely to do so. Ophthalmologists and pathologists were also among the happiest physicians at work this year.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon 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 32%, plastic surgeons were among the least likely to do so. Among the highest rates were those reported by neurologists, intensivists, ob/gyns, and family physicians.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon 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 plastic surgeons reported burnout (36%) than did their male peers (19%).
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon 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. Over half (54%) of plastic surgeon respondents said they exercise, while somewhat lower percentages talk to family or close friends (42%) or sleep (41%). Although 23% turn to alcohol, exceedingly few (less than 1%) said they use nicotine, marijuana, or prescription drugs (shown on slide as 0% due to rounding).
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Plastic surgeons who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. More than half (55%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, and 42% selected too many hours at work.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Plastic surgeons, at 35%, were among the most likely of all respondents to report that they would seek professional help for burnout, depression, or both. Not surprisingly, psychiatrists were also at the top of the list, along with public health physicians and pediatricians.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Plastic surgeons 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 (17% responded 6 or 7) versus introverted (9% responded 1 or 2).
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Over one third of plastic surgeons who acknowledged having depression reported that they are more easily exasperated by (38%) or express their frustration in front of (35%) staff and peers as a result. One quarter responded that their depression has no effect on these relationships.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Among plastic surgeons who reported depression, fully one half believe that their depression has no effect on patient care. However, about one third (32%) acknowledged that because of their depression they are more easily exasperated by patients. No one admitted that their depression leads to errors they wouldn't otherwise make or that they make errors that could harm patients.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Plastic surgeons were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. A scant 16% reported that they had.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most plastic surgeons reported that they are married (76%), and 6% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, 11% are single, 5% are divorced and not remarried, and 1% are widowed.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Plastic surgeons reported that they are married to a person in the healthcare field as often as not, with respondents split at 50%. Of the former one half, 18% are married to another physician and 32% are married to a non-physician working in healthcare.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
When asked whether they have spiritual or religious beliefs, 68% of plastic surgeons responded that they do and 28% said they do not. Four percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Almost half (48%) of plastic surgeons said they have three or fewer close friends, while 40% said they have four to six. A gregarious 13% reported that they have seven or more close friends in their circle.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-three percent of plastic surgeons surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, while 18% take even more. Well over one third (39%), however, take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-six percent of plastic surgeons said they want to lose weight, and one third 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 Plastic Surgeon 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 (37%) of plastic surgeons said they exercise two to three times a week, and the same percentage does so even more often. In contrast, 17% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and 9% said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Close to one third (31%) of plastic surgeons reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all, but nearly as many (29%) said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon 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. Among the most popular makes with plastic surgeons were BMW (18%) and Mercedes-Benz and Toyota (13% each).
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Plastic Surgeon 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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