Please confirm that you would like to log out of Medscape.
If you log out, you will be required to enter your username and password the next time you visit.
Log outCancel
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020
| Contributor Information
Swipe to advance
1 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Physicians worldwide have put their physical and mental health at risk as they battle the coronavirus pandemic. In our COVID-19 survey, almost 7500 physicians from the United States, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom told Medscape about their universal — yet also varied — struggles to save patients while perhaps also dealing with loneliness, strife in their personal lives, and a changed view of medicine and their career. Survey respondents include over 5000 US physicians.
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
More than half of US physicians have personally treated patients with COVID-19; the United States leads in also using telemedicine (video visits) for these patients. As of August 2, 2020, COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 population for various countries are as follows: United Kingdom, 69.6; Spain, 60.9; United States, 47.2; France, 45.2; Brazil, 44.7; Mexico, 37.6; Portugal, 16.9; Germany, 11.0.
3 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Emergency medicine physicians are most likely to treat patients with COVID-19 in person. Owing to the nature of COVID-19 and its pulmonary effects, pulmonologists are also heavily involved. Among family physicians, 58% are treating patients with COVID-19 in person, and 45% are treating via telemedicine. For internists, those figures are 69% and 36%, respectively (respondents could choose more than one answer).
4 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
In all eight countries surveyed, a noteworthy proportion of physicians either sometimes, often, or always lacked appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when treating patients with COVID-19. The United States (54%), Portugal (50%), Germany (46%), and the United Kingdom (45%) had the highest proportions of physicians who said they never treated patients with COVID-19 without appropriate PPE.
5 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Physicians who contracted COVID-19 either had disease confirmed by a test, or disease confirmed by symptoms but not a test. An analysis of worldwide deaths among physicians and healthcare workers from COVID-19 notes that "frontline physicians including anesthesiologists, ICU specialists, emergency room physicians, and nurses form a much smaller group of COVID-19 cases, likely due to better access to personal protective equipment," said Basavana Goudra, MD, at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
6 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Nine percent of US physicians said they have immediate family members who were diagnosed with COVID-19 either confirmed by a test, or confirmed by symptoms but not a test. (It is unknown whether or not these family members lived with them).
7 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Physicians in the seven countries surveyed saw a large decrease in income. (This question was not asked in the United Kingdom). Over 60% of physicians in the United States and Brazil experienced a decline in income. The percentages of physicians in Mexico (56%) and Portugal (49%) whose incomes decreased were also substantial. In the countries where this question was asked, small percentages of physicians saw their income increase: United States, 3%; Germany, 4%; Portugal, 9%; Brazil, 14%; France, 16%; Mexico, 17%; Spain, 20%.
8 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Most often, US physicians saw a decrease in income of 11%-50%. The US specialists whose incomes declined by 51% or more were ophthalmologists (51%), allergists (46%), plastic surgeons (46%), and otolaryngologists (45%).
9 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
About two thirds of US physicians say their burnout has become more intense. Among female physicians in the United States, 70% say their burnout has become more intense, compared with 61% of male physicians. Increases in burnout in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and Mexico are similar to that in the United States. In Germany, only 45% of physicians report more intense burnout.
10 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
A notable percentage of US physicians — similar to the overall population — has been eating and drinking more since COVID-19 stay-at-home guidelines came into effect. Alcohol sales in the United States have increased 26.5% between mid-March and mid-May over the same period last year. For each activity, some physicians have had no change.
11 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Food appears to be the comfort of greatest choice for all countries. An increase in eating is the most common new behavior reported during the social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines.
12 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Stay-at-home guidelines and social distancing have led to more stressful home relationships for about 4 in 10 US physicians. Doctors under age 45 are slightly more likely (48%) to report increased stress in their home relationships compared with physicians aged 45 or older (42%). Female physicians in the United States are slightly more likely (46%) to experience increased stress in home relationships compared with male physicians (42%). (Respondents were physicians who had family living at home with them during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
13 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Because humans are social animals, distancing and restricting social activities has had a profound impact on people's mental state. Almost half of US physicians say they are lonelier now that than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 4% of US physicians say they are less lonely. Increased loneliness is widespread; Germany is among the countries with the smallest proportion of physicians experiencing this.
14 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
15 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Just over half of US physicians are not considering any of the changes that they were asked about. However, among those changes, physicians are most likely to be considering retiring earlier than previously planned. (Respondents could choose more than one answer).
"I'm looking for a new profession due to economic impact. No other profession has elevated physical risk combined with a personal economic hardship. We are at risk while essentially using our private savings to keep our practice solvent." —United States, otolaryngologist
16 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
The majority of US physicians have reopened their practices, and large percentages of practices never closed. Pediatrics (62%), physical medicine and rehabilitation (49%), family medicine (48%), and radiology (46%) are the specialties with the highest percentage having continuously kept their offices open.
17 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
18 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Physicians have reported significant grief and trauma that arose from treating patients with COVID-19. Physicians in the United States and Spain were more likely to indicate their workplace has offered these activities than were their peers in Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and Portugal. Physicians in Brazil, France, and Mexico were more likely than those in Germany to say that their workplace has offered these activities.
19 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Physicians in most countries surveyed have a strong sense of ethics when it comes to putting themselves on the line for patients in need. Doctors in France are most likely to feel that it's their obligation compared with their peers in all other countries except Spain. Still, not everyone agreed. "Altruism must take second place where a real and present threat exists to my own personal existence," said one US internist.
20 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
There is ongoing and potentially promising research that physicians and the general population worldwide hope will lead to a vaccine. About half or more physicians in all countries believe that this will happen within the next 18 months.
21 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Researchers around the world continue to work to develop and refine treatments for COVID-19. Many clinical trials are planned or underway to test drugs and investigational compounds to see if they can have an impact on COVID-19, including shortening the duration of the illness and lessening complications.
22 of 25
Scroll
Medscape US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report: Risk, Burnout, Loneliness
Leslie Kane, MA | September 11, 2020 | Contributor Information
Cruises are canceled; hotels struggle to attract guests; and American Airlines said its planes, on average, were about 15% full in April, 45% in May, and 63% in June. People are staying home, and physicians plan to avoid vacation travel until they feel the danger has passed. Protective guidelines aren't very comforting to US physicians; almost three quarters plan to wait until a vaccine is available and/or the pandemic is over. (Respondents could choose more than one answer.)
Medscape National Physician Burnout & Suicide Report 2020: The Generational Divide
More than 15,000 physicians told us how they feel about burnout and depression. In some cases, their responses differed along generational lines.Medscape Features Slideshow, Jan 2020
Commenting is limited to medical professionals. To comment please Log-in.
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.
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.
Close
Contributor Information
Leslie Kane, MA
Senior Director, Medscape Business of Medicine
Close
References
Close
Image Zoom
Close
Feedback
Please do not use this form to submit personal or patient medical information or to report adverse drug events. You are encouraged to report adverse drug event information to the FDA.
Comments