Medscape's "Lifestyle Report 2017: Race and Ethnicity, Bias and Burnout," addresses how burnout affects physicians' behavior, patient care and happiness levels. Burnout is defined as "a loss of enthusiasm for work, feelings of cynicism and a low sense of personal accomplishment," according to Medscape.
The survey included responses from more than 14,000 physicians in more than 30 specialties.
Here are some key insights:
1. The following percentage of physicians reported burnout:
• Emergency medicine — 59 percent (highest percentage of all physicians)
• OB/GYNs — 56 percent
• Family physicians, internists and infectious disease physicians —55 percent
• Orthopedics — 49 percent
• Psychiatry and mental health — 42 percent (lowest percentage of all physicians)
2. In terms of burnout severity, on a scale of one (doesn't interfere with life) to seven (may leave medicine):
• Urologists rank at the top with 4.6
• Orthopedic physicians check in at 4.1
• Infectious diseases specialists report the lowest severity at 3.9
4. On a scale of one (doesn't contribute) to seven (significantly contributes), physicians ranked causes of burnout:
• Too many bureaucratic tasks — 5.3 (number one cause)
• Spending too many hours at work — 4.7
• Lack of professional fulfillment — 3.9
• Inability to keep up with current research and recommendations — 3.1 (lowest cause)
5. Fifty-five percent of female physicians reported burnout in 2017, compared to 45 percent of male physicians.
6. Based on geographical region, burnout rates proved highest in the Northwest (54 percent) and lowest in the West (49 percent).