Here are 18 key findings from the 2019 Medscape Orthopedist Lifestyle, Happiness & Burnout Report. Medscape surveyed 15,069 physicians from more than 29 specialties for the report.
1. Only 29 percent of orthopedists in Medscape's survey reported being happy or very happy at work.
2. Outside of work, 53 percent of surveyed orthopedists are very or extremely happy.
3. The percentage of orthopedists who are burned out (38 percent) is slightly less than burned out physicians overall (44 percent).
4. Only 3 percent of orthopedists reported being clinically depressed.
5. More than half (60 percent) of orthopedists cope with burnout through exercise.
6. While many factors contribute to burnout, 60 percent of orthopedists said having too many bureaucratic tasks is a key factor.
7. Of orthopedists who say they are depressed, 45 percent believe it does not affect their interactions with patients.
8. Almost half – 45 percent – of depressed orthopedists reported being easily exasperated with staff and peers.
9. Ten percent of orthopedists who are burned out, depressed, or both admitted to having thoughts of suicide.
10. Most orthopedists — 75 percent — do not seek professional help for burnout and/or depression and have not done so in the past.
11. Approximately two-thirds of orthopedists describe their self-esteem as high (48 percent) or very high (19 percent).
12. The vast majority – 88 percent – of orthopedists are married, and 88 percent say that their marriages are good or very good.
13. Seventy-nine percent of orthopedists spend 1-10 hours per week on personal Internet use, compared to 70 percent of physicians overall.
14. While 84 percent spend 1-10 hours on professional Internet use per week, only 16 percent spend 11 hours or more per week, compared with 22 percent of physicians overall.
15. Nearly half — 43 percent — of orthopedists take between three and four weeks of vacation annually. A quarter take five weeks or more.
16. Seventy-two percent of orthopedists have a spiritual or religious belief system.
17. Approximately 37 percent of orthopedists exercise at least four times a week.
18. About 35 percent of orthopedists have one or no drinks per week.