In a major study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine and Mayo Clinic researchers, two-thirds of surgeons did not want restrictions on their hours, even when they exceeded 80 hours a week and increased the likelihood of depression, burn-out and career dissatisfaction, according to Johns Hopkins news release.
In the study, researchers analyzed data from a survey completed by 7,905 surgeons across the country in 2008. Of the surgeons who worked more than 80 hours per week, half of them met the survey’s criteria for burnout, 39 percent screened positive for depression and 11 percent reported they had made a serious medical error in the last three months. Career dissatisfaction was also substantial, with one in five of the 80-hour-per-week group saying they would not become a surgeon if faced with the choice today.
Still, despite these findings, the majority of surgeons did not want limits placed on their work schedules. Researchers say surgeons may not want their time monitored or regulated, and may resent punching time clocks. However, surgeons who were salaried were more likely to favor restrictions than those whose pay was based entirely on billing.
Researchers hope the study’s findings alert surgeons and supervisors to the high-risk of burn-out and depression, and help identify candidates for counseling or tailored schedules to address surgeon distress.
Read the Johns Hopkins news release on the study regarding surgeons.
Read other news about surgeons:
-Anesthesiologists, Surgeons Top List of Highest-Paying Jobs
-Survey: Surgeons Predict Physician Fee Cut Will Make It Impossible to Continue to Treat Medicare Patients
-Almost Nine Percent of Surgeons Concerned About Making 'Major' Errors
In the study, researchers analyzed data from a survey completed by 7,905 surgeons across the country in 2008. Of the surgeons who worked more than 80 hours per week, half of them met the survey’s criteria for burnout, 39 percent screened positive for depression and 11 percent reported they had made a serious medical error in the last three months. Career dissatisfaction was also substantial, with one in five of the 80-hour-per-week group saying they would not become a surgeon if faced with the choice today.
Still, despite these findings, the majority of surgeons did not want limits placed on their work schedules. Researchers say surgeons may not want their time monitored or regulated, and may resent punching time clocks. However, surgeons who were salaried were more likely to favor restrictions than those whose pay was based entirely on billing.
Researchers hope the study’s findings alert surgeons and supervisors to the high-risk of burn-out and depression, and help identify candidates for counseling or tailored schedules to address surgeon distress.
Read the Johns Hopkins news release on the study regarding surgeons.
Read other news about surgeons:
-Anesthesiologists, Surgeons Top List of Highest-Paying Jobs
-Survey: Surgeons Predict Physician Fee Cut Will Make It Impossible to Continue to Treat Medicare Patients
-Almost Nine Percent of Surgeons Concerned About Making 'Major' Errors