Nearly Half of U.S. Physicians Battle Burnout, Study Finds

Roughly 46 percent of physicians reported at least one symptom of burnout, and physicians at the frontlines of care access — such as emergency medicine, family medicine and general internal medicine — face the highest risk, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The findings are based on survey results from 7,288 physicians. Physicians face a 37.9 percent probability of burnout and 40.2 percent probability of dissatisfaction with work-life balance compared with other working adults' 27.8 percent and 23.2 percent probabilities, respectively.

Of those physicians who participated in the survey, 37.9 percent experienced emotional exhaustion, 29.4 percent had high depersonalization or detachment and 12.4 percent had low sense of personal accomplishment.

While emergency medicine, general internal medicine, family medicine and neurology had the highest rates of burnout, pathology, dermatology and general pediatrics had the lowest rates.

The authors concluded the "prevalence of burnout among U.S. physicians is at an alarming level," according to the news release. They also said the burnout rate implies the problem is rooted in the care delivery system and not in personal characteristics of "a few susceptible individuals."

More Articles on Physicians and Burnout:

Work-Home Imbalance Can Lead Physicians to Depression, Alcoholism
Survey: Majority of Physicians Believe Stress Could Impact Patient Care
Study: Physicians in Their 40s Have Highest Stress Levels


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