Physicians and burnout
Burnout among physicians has been discussed, researched, and debated exhaustively. Enter the words, “physician burnout” into a Google search and 13,000 000 results pop up. Yet, it remains an issue for which definitive solutions have been elusive.
What is Burnout?
Burnout is recognized by the WHO as an occupational phenomenon. and is defined by ICD-11 as a “Syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions:
- feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
- increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job
- reduced professional efficacy
Burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.”
While burnout is not unique to physicians, they are disproportionately affected: physician burnout rates range from 42%- 54% compared to other US employees who report burnout rates of 28% (Mayo Clinic Proceedings).
The 2020 Medscape National Physician Suicide and Burnout Report presents updated information on burnout statistics.
They surveyed 15,181 physicians in the US in 2019. 42% reported feeling burned out. Female physicians reported higher burnout rates that their male counterparts (48% vs 37%). Generation X physicians reported higher burnout (48%) than Millenials (38%) and Boomers (39%).
The causes of burnout are multifactorial: 59% of physicians reported having to deal with too many bureaucratic tasks, while 34% reported spending too many hours at work. Other factors reported were computerization of practice, lack of respect from administrators or employers, and lack of control and autonomy.
Robert Pearl MD on KevinMD.com writes « Ultimately, doctors are struggling to cope in a world where everything is changing quickly except for the medical culture. This clash between the values physicians were taught, and their new reality is producing some of the telltale symptoms we associate with burnout, including disillusionment and despair »
What are the consequences of burnout?
What can be done?
Many academic health care centers have initiated wellness programs for physician faculty and trainees. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) included attention to trainee wellness in their 2019 Common Program Requirements.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has developed a “Practice Transformation” program of “strategies and resources designed to increase professional satisfaction and physician well-being : here.
According to a recent systematic review published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, “the Effect of Organization-Directed Workplace Interventions on Physician Burnout” workplace interventions that « improve processes, optimize EHRs, reduce clerical burden by the use of scribes, and implement team-based care can lessen physician burnout ».
Physicians must be encouraged to seek help. The majority of physicians don’t seek help. “Because the majority of doctors are overworked and exhausted, they have normalized their misery and pretend that it’s not as bad as it seems” says Pamela Wible, MD from Eugene, Oregon on Medscape.
Alarming Observation
Ask for help!
If you are a physician or health care professional experiencing symptoms of burnout, talk to a loved one, a trusted colleague, or mentor. Don’t isolate or blame yourself. You are not alone.