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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Pulmonologist 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 Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Pulmonologists were among the more likely physicians Medscape surveyed to report that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; 53% of pulmonologists described themselves as such. Physicians with the highest happiness scores included allergists, dermatologists, emergency medicine physicians, and ophthalmologists.
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Medscape Pulmonologist 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, pulmonologists were among those who were more likely to do so (29%). Ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, and pathologists were also among the happiest physicians at work this year.
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Medscape Pulmonologist 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%, pulmonologists fell near the middle among them. The highest rates were reported by neurologists, intensivists, ob/gyns, family physicians, and internists.
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Medscape Pulmonologist 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 pulmonologists reported burnout (51%) than did their male peers (38%).
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Medscape Pulmonologist 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. Half of pulmonologist respondents said they exercise, while somewhat lower percentages resort to sleep (43%) or eating junk food (36%). Although 17% turn to alcohol, very few said they use nicotine (4%). None said they use marijuana or prescription drugs.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Pulmonologists who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. More than half (55%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, 40% selected too many hours at work, and 33% cited lack of respect from administrators, employers, colleagues, or staff.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Pulmonologists, 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 and preventive medicine physicians, and pediatricians.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Pulmonologists 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 (13% responded 1 or 2) versus extroverted (11% responded 6 or 7).
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Pulmonologists were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. A scant 14% reported that they had.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most pulmonologists reported that they are married (85%), and 3% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, 5% are single or divorced and not remarried, and 1% are widowed.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Slightly more pulmonologists reported that they are married to a person who works outside of the healthcare field (50%) than within it (49%). Of that 49%, 24% are married to another physician and 25% are married to a non-physician working in healthcare.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
When asked whether they have spiritual or religious beliefs, just over two thirds (67%) of pulmonologists responded that they do and 22% said they do not. Eleven percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
A little over half (52%) of pulmonologists said they have three or fewer close friends, while just under one third (32%) said they have four to six. A gregarious 16% reported that they have seven or more close friends in their circle.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Fifty-eight percent of pulmonologists surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, while 14% take even more. More than a quarter (28%), however, take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Fifty-one percent of pulmonologists said they want to lose weight, and 29% want to maintain their current weight. Only 18% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while 1% would like to gain weight.
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Medscape Pulmonologist 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 pulmonologists said they exercise two to three times a week, while 28% do so even more often. In contrast, 18% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and 13% said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nearly half (49%) of pulmonologists reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all, and 14% said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Pulmonologist 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 pulmonologists were Toyota (23%), Honda (18%), Mercedes-Benz (16%), and Lexus (13%).
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Pulmonologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Pulmonologist 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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