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Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Being a physician comes with the constant struggle to balance work and personal life, and dermatologists are no different. This Medscape report explores how these doctors deal with burnout and other wellness issues, as well as their life outside of the office.
(Note: Some totals in this presentation do not equal 100% due to rounding.)
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
A career as a dermatologist can be challenging, although compared with their colleagues, dermatologists' happiness is at the top of the pack. Forty-one percent responded that they were very or extremely happy at work.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Perhaps not surprising, in general, physicians in all specialties, including dermatologists, are happier outside of the office. Somewhat more than half of dermatologists said they are either very or extremely happy when away from work.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
The growing number of bureaucratic tasks is the leading factor for dermatologist burnout. Other factors include more time devoted to the EHR and complying with regulations. (Respondents could choose more than one answer.)
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Forty-four percent of dermatologists turn to exercising or talking to family and friends to deal with their burnout, while a similar percentage isolate themselves, illustrating the variety in coping mechanisms among physicians. (Respondents could choose more than one answer.)
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
The majority of dermatologists who reported being depressed said they have not felt suicidal. However, 16% of dermatologists said they had had suicidal thoughts.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Sixty-one percent of depressed and/or burned-out dermatologists plan to deal with their emotions themselves. Close to one fifth are seeking help now or plan to do so.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
While wellness programs in healthcare organizations and hospitals are becoming more common, dermatologists are divided on whether they would access such services.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
The main factor keeping dermatologists from seeking help for their burnout and depression is not considering their symptoms severe enough. Other factors include feeling that they could handle it on their own and being too busy. (Respondents could choose more than one answer.)
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
The majority of dermatologists, regardless of gender, are married. Overall, 8% of physicians are single, similar to the percentage of dermatologists (11%).
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Fifty-one percent of dermatologists take 3-4 weeks of vacation per year, a somewhat greater percentage than that of all physicians (44%). Seven percent of dermatologists spend more than 6 weeks away from the office.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Toyota is the top make among dermatologists, as it is among all physicians. Lexus and BMW are tied for the next most popular make among dermatologists. (Respondents could choose more than one answer.)
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
About two thirds of dermatologists spend 1-10 hours per week on the Internet for personal use. According to a recent study by the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future, weekly Internet use at home rose from 12.3 hours in 2010 to 17.6 hours in 2016.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Eighty-two percent of dermatologists said they spend 10 hours or less on the Internet for their work. Among all physicians, 75% spend that amount of time online for their jobs.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Forty-four percent of dermatologists say they regularly have the time to focus on their health and wellness goals. However, for the majority, it is a struggle to balance that with the workload and commitment they carry as physicians.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Forty-two percent of dermatologists say they manage to exercise at least four times a week. In 2018, the CDC found that only 23% of US adults are reaching their guidelines of at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week.
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
Forty-five percent of dermatologists reported having fewer than one alcoholic beverage per week. The percentage of dermatologists who said they have more than six drinks per week is similar to the percentage for physicians overall (7%).
Keith L. Martin | February 12, 2020 | Contributor Information
About half of dermatologists reported feeling very or somewhat anxious about the US political climate as we approach the next presidential election. Physicians overall were also fairly divided in their concern over events coming out of Washington, DC.
Medscape Physician Lifestyle & Happiness Report 2020: The Generational Divide
More than 15,000 physicians of various generations told Medscape about their lives outside of medical practice.Medscape Features Slideshows, January 2020
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Comments on Medscape are moderated and should be professional in tone and on topic. You must declare any conflicts of interest related to your comments and responses. Please see our Commenting Guide for further information. We reserve the right to remove posts at our sole discretion.
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Keith L. Martin
Editorial Director, Medscape Business of Medicine
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