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Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
The lingering effects of a global pandemic continue to take a toll on the nation's physicians, and urologists are no exception.
In this year's report, Medscape explores physicians' happiness with their personal lives and their professional work, how their marriages and personal relationships are faring, as well as how they are maintaining their physical and mental health. More than 13,000 physicians across 29 specialties responded to the survey.
(Note: Some totals in this presentation do not equal 100% due to rounding.)
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Seventy-eight percent of urologists said they were "very" or "somewhat" happy outside of work prior to the global pandemic, similar to physicians overall (81%).
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
The stress and strain of the pandemic continues to affect physicians of various specialties. The percentage of urologists who say they are currently "very" or "somewhat" happy outside of work is about the same as for physicians overall (59%).
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Urologists were in the middle range of burned-out physicians in our survey. In last year's report, 42% of physicians reported that they are burned out; that's risen to 47% this year.
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
The volume of bureaucratic tasks is the main contributor to urologist burnout, even moreso than for physicians overall (60%). Lack of control or autonomy and increasing use of EHRs and other data technology were also selected as major factors in this year's report. (Participants could choose more than one response.)
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Fifty-three percent of urologists feel that their personality type contributes to their burnout, a larger percentage than among physicians overall (34%).
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Forty-five percent of urologists reported that they were more burned out now than during the initial months of the pandemic, a smaller percentage than among physicians overall (55%). Around half said their burnout was the same.
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Among their top strategies to quell burnout, urologists took advantage of meditation or other stress-reduction methods, changed work settings, and changed workflow or staffing to ease their workload. Top strategies among physicians overall included reduced hours and stress-reduction techniques. (Participants could choose more than one response.)
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
The vast majority of urologists are currently in a committed relationship, with about 89% either married or living with a partner. Similarly, 83% of physicians overall report being in such a relationship.
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Most physicians, no matter the specialty, appear to be in happy marriages.
Urologists are toward the middle of all specialties when it comes to marital happiness. Otolaryngologists and allergists topped the list (both 91%), followed closely by dermatologists, rheumatologists, and nephrologists (all 90%).
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Fifty-seven percent of urologists are married to or partners with someone who does not work in medicine. This is about the same as among all physicians (56%).
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Fifty-seven percent of urologists said they are willing to take a cut in pay for better work-life balance or more free time. This is similar among physicians overall (55%).
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Urologists are choosing to spend their time exercising and being with the ones they love as main drivers to maintain their well-being. Physicians overall (66%) are somewhat more likely than urologists to choose to do the things they enjoy as a means to happiness. (Participants could choose more than one response.)
Alexis Polles, MD, medical director for the Professionals Resource Network, which assists impaired physicians, says that when doctors' lives get unbalanced, they need to find things that restore energy and joy.
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Perhaps it's not surprising that more physicians were happier with their work-life balance before the pandemic. Among urologists, that was also the case.
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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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Contributor Information
Sylvie M. Baggett
Lifestyle Editor
Medscape Medical Lifestyle
Keith L. Martin
Editorial Director
Medscape Business of Medicine
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