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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 rheumatologists 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
About three quarters of rheumatologists said they were "very" or "somewhat" happy outside of work prior to the global pandemic, a somewhat smaller proportion than among 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 rheumatologists who say they are currently "very" or "somewhat" happy outside of work is similar to that of physicians overall (59%).
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Rheumatologists 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
Female rheumatologists reported being burned out at a greater rate than their male colleagues.
"There's no question that women have reported far more role strain during the pandemic than men," says Carol A. Bernstein, MD, psychiatrist at Montefiore Health System and professor and vice chair for faculty development and wellbeing at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "Often women assumed more of the childcare and homeschooling responsibilities in their households. As a result, we know that more women dropped out of the workforce. Also, past studies indicate that women are more likely to report feelings of burnout than men."
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
The volume of bureaucratic tasks is the main contributor to rheumatologist burnout, even moreso than among physicians overall (60%). Spending too many hours at work was also selected as a major factor in this year's report. (Participants could choose more than one response.)
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
About half of rheumatologists reported that they were more burned out now than during the initial months of the pandemic, similar to physicians overall (55%). Around 4 in 10 said their burnout was the same.
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
About 3 in 10 rheumatologists reduced their hours at work to quell burnout. Top strategies among physicians overall included reduced hours and meditation or other stress-reduction techniques. (Participants could choose more than one response.)
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
About three quarters of rheumatologists are currently either married or living with a partner. A somewhat higher percentage (83%) of physicians overall report being in a committed relationship.
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
This year an even larger percentage of married rheumatologists reported being in a "very good" or "good" marriage than in last year's report (82%). (Due to rounding, some totals may not correspond with the sum of the separate figures.)
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Otolaryngologists and allergists topped the list of specialists when it comes to marital happiness (both 91%), followed closely by dermatologists, rheumatologists, and nephrologists (all 90%).
Most physicians, no matter the specialty, appear to be in happy marriages.
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
A bit more than half of rheumatologists are married to or partners with someone who does not work in medicine. This is similar to the proportion among all physicians (56%).
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Among rheumatologists balancing parenthood and a medical career, female physicians noted feeling conflicted more than twice as often as their male peers (47% vs 20% were "very conflicted" or "conflicted").
This general attitude is reflected in almost all occupations, according to a Pew Research survey, which found that larger shares of mothers than fathers struggled with childcare responsibilities during the pandemic.
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Six in 10 rheumatologists said they are willing to take a cut in pay for better work-life balance or more free time. This is a somewhat greater proportion than among physicians overall (55%).
Sylvie M. Baggett; Keith L. Martin | February 18, 2022 | Contributor Information
Rheumatologists are doing the things they enjoy and exercising as main drivers to maintain their well-being. Physicians overall are more likely to choose to spend their time with their loved ones (68%) 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 rheumatologists, 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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Sylvie M. Baggett
Lifestyle Editor
Medscape Medical Lifestyle
Keith L. Martin
Editorial Director
Medscape Business of Medicine
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