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Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Events of the past year challenged the happiness, wellness, and lifestyles of many, but especially those in the healthcare field. Whether on the front lines of treating COVID-19 patients, pivoting from in-person to virtual care, or even having to shutter their practices, physicians faced an onslaught of crises, while political tensions, social unrest, and environmental concerns probably affected their lives outside of medicine.
In this year's report, Medscape explores how anesthesiologists are coping with burnout, maintaining personal wellness, and viewing their workplaces and their futures amid the pandemic. More than 12,000 physicians in over 29 specialties responded to our survey.
(Note: Some totals in this presentation do not equal 100% due to rounding.)
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Anesthesiologists largely reported being happy outside of work prior to COVID-19 affecting everyday living in March 2020. Eighty-four percent said they were somewhat or very happy then, similar to the percentage (82%) of physicians overall. Endocrinologists and public health and preventive medicine physicians were ranked highest on happiness outside of work before the pandemic; infectious disease physicians ranked lowest.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
As the pandemic has worn on, feelings have shifted, showing signs of strain on the healthcare industry and its doctors. Similar to physicians overall (58%), 57% of anesthesiologists say they are now very or somewhat happy outside of work. Perhaps not surprising given the specific challenges around COVID-19, infectious disease physicians (45%), pulmonologists (47%), rheumatologists (49%), and intensivists (49%) currently rank lowest in happiness outside of work.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Around two thirds of anesthesiologist respondents who reported burnout consider it serious enough to have at least a moderate impact on their lives. About one tenth find it so severe that they are thinking of leaving medicine altogether, an unexpected outcome after having spent so many years in training to become a physician.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Fifty-eight percent of anesthesiologists who reported burnout pointed to lack of respect from colleagues in the workplace as the leading contributor. Other factors include spending too many hours at work and lack of control or autonomy. (Respondents could choose more than one answer.)
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Anesthesiologists' top tactic for dealing with burnout is exercise, which is also the most popular choice (48%) among physicians overall. Other high-ranking choices include sleeping or isolating themselves from others (both 44%). (Respondents could choose more than one answer.)
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
The large majority (75%) of depressed and/or burned-out anesthesiologists plan to forego professional care for the problem. Sixteen percent are seeking help now or plan to do so.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Considering their symptoms not severe enough and feeling that they could deal with the problem a different way are top reasons why anesthesiologists haven't sought professional help for their burnout and/or depression. (Respondents could choose more than one answer.)
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Fifteen percent of anesthesiologists who are burned out, depressed, or both said they have had thoughts of suicide.
One physician who admitted to having had suicidal thoughts said, "I yell all the time. I am angry and frustrated all the time. I think about quitting all the time.... No one [in my organization] cares about doing the right things for patients as much as I do."
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Work-life balance is the most pressing workplace issue for nearly half of anesthesiologists. Similarly, among physicians overall, 46% said work-life balance is their top concern.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Seventy-nine percent of anesthesiologists have some degree of anxiety about their future, given COVID-19 — a similar percentage as for physicians overall (77%). However, The U.S. National Pandemic Emotional Impact Report, a project spearheaded by investigators at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Harvard Medical School, found that 23% of Americans surveyed had no fear of a bleaker future.
"This speaks to a fundamentally positive attitude toward life, even in a pandemic, and echoes the research on resilience in physicians," said Michael F. Myers, MD, a specialist in physician health and professor of clinical psychiatry at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York. "Physicians who are not paralyzed by anxiety are in a good position to help their patients because they can be hopeful, empathic, and calming."
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Fifty-three percent of anesthesiologists would sacrifice some of their salary for a better home life, a somewhat greater percentage than that of physicians overall (47%).
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Around a third (34%) of anesthesiologists generally make time to focus on their own well-being, roughly the same proportion as for physicians overall (35%).
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Seventy-three percent of anesthesiologists say they exercise two or more times per week, similar to the percentage (70%) of physicians overall.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity for adults, or a combination of both. The group noted that this is for those in self-quarantine without any symptoms or diagnosis of acute respiratory illness.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Toyota, Honda, and BMW are among the most popular cars among anesthesiologists, as they are among physicians overall. Respondents were allowed to choose as many makes as applied.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Nearly a quarter of anesthesiologists take 3-4 weeks of vacation per year, while somewhat more than half take 5 or more weeks. This is similar to the findings of our 2020 report.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Close to half of anesthesiologists are currently trying to lose weight, with a third working to maintain their current weight — no easy task during the pandemic.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
The large majority of anesthesiologists are currently in a committed relationship, with 88% either married or living with a partner. Similarly, 85% of physicians overall report being in such a relationship.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Eighty-three percent of anesthesiologists say their marriages are very good or good, similar to the 84% who described their marriages that way in last year's report.
Both this year and last, 85% of physicians overall said their marriages were very good or good.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
Among anesthesiologists who are married or living with a partner, around 44% are with someone in the medical field. Similarly, among all such physicians, a notable percentage have a spouse or partner who works in healthcare.
Keith L. Martin; Mary Lyn Koval | February 19, 2021 | Contributor Information
A large majority (85%) of anesthesiologists are online for work for up to 10 hours per week. One could assume that that will grow with the rise of telemedicine due to the pandemic. Even when their personal use and professional use are combined, on average, anesthesiologists spend far less time online than the nearly 7 hours per day of the average internet user, as reported by Hootsuite and We Are Social.
More than 12,000 physicians in various specialties told Medscape about their lives before and during the global pandemic.Medscape Features Slideshow, Jan 2021
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Keith L. Martin
Editorial Director, Medscape Business of Medicine
Mary Lyn Koval
Editorial Consultant
Disclosure: Mary Lyn Koval has disclosed no relevant financial relationships
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