80% of physicians report being happy, report finds

Alyssa Rege -

While burnout constitutes a significant issue among physicians, 77 percent of physicians reported feeling somewhat, very or extremely happy outside of work, according to a recent Medscape report released Jan. 9.

The Medscape Physician Lifestyle & Happiness Report 2019 surveyed more than 15,000 U.S. physicians across 29 specialties about their lifestyles and experiences with burnout and depression. The report highlights lifestyle issues physicians routinely face, such as work satisfaction, vacation time, religion, marriage, exercise and social tendencies.

Five findings from the report:

1. Rheumatologists (65 percent), otolaryngologists (60 percent) and endocrinologists (59 percent) identified as being the happiest medical professionals outside of work, while neurologists (45 percent), infectious disease specialists (46 percent) and cardiologists (47 percent) identified as being the least happy outside of work.

2. Seventy-three percent of plastic surgeons identified as having high self-esteem –– the most of all medical professionals surveyed.

3. The majority of physicians said they spend between one and 10 hours per week on the internet for personal use, compared to the average American who typically spends roughly 24 hours per week online, the report found.

4. Seven in 10 physicians identified as having religious or spiritual beliefs. The results were similar to Medscape's 2018 lifestyle report, which found roughly 80 percent of physicians maintained religious beliefs.

5. The three most popular car brands among physicians were: Toyota (20 percent), Honda (16 percent) and BMW (10 percent).

To access the full report, click here.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.