Doctor burnout at an all-time high shows Medscape report

Doctor burnout is at an all-time high shown in Medscape’s report despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic waning and increased awareness about the disadvantages and negative impacts of physician burnout, a 2022 report by Medscape has shown that depression and burnout among physicians have continued to increase. Senior director of Medscape Business of Medicine, Leslie Kane has shared that despite recent events alluding to improvements the reality is quite contrary. 

The report was based on a 2022 survey of approximately 9100 physicians in the U.S. belonging across almost 30 specialties. The report was titled “I Cry and No One Cares”, which was incidentally a confession of a respondent in the survey.

In 2018, 42% of medical practitioners were suffering from burnout, and in 2021 this number rose to 47%. In this year’s survey responses over half the responding practitioners said that they are burned out and approximately 25% of the respondents also claimed to suffer from depression and outlined burnout from their jobs and world affairs as two top causes.

Lack of respect from co-workers, menial paperwork, long work hours, and insufficient compensation was identified as significant causes of stress in the workplace. In comparison, independent practitioners who have complete autonomy and control over their productivity showed less burnout according to the reports. 

According to Kane, tactical tools such as the use of AI to fill out prior authorization paperwork, and using scribes for note-taking can help solve the problem temporarily. In her opinion, present circumstances are forcing doctors to consider switching their form of practice. 

While most practitioners presently cope with stress by talking to friends and family or exercising, doctors feel that a more manageable work schedule, more support staff, and increased compensation would help most in combatting burnout. With the help of a raise, practitioners feel more respected and valued, shared Peter Yellowlees, M.D., Chief Wellness Officer at the University of California. 

As a last-ditch effort, more than half of the survey’s respondents feel that the formation of a union to fight burnout may be a way to bring more awareness to the cause. 

Over one-third of the respondents in the survey shared how their workplace lacks a program to reduce burnout. In addition to this, approximately one-third of the survey respondents shared that they have not sought professional help for their burnout nor do they plan to do so because of the stigma attached to physicians seeking mental health support. One-third of the respondents also shared that they prefer not to tell other people about their depression, as they feel that people will think less of their professional abilities. 

A quarter of doctors responding to the survey were clinically depressed and a third of the correspondents have shared that they feel their mental health is affecting their patient interactions. This includes becoming easily exasperated and careless in taking patient notes.

Kane has noted that hospitals have a vested interest in keeping doctors satisfied and happy since burnout will otherwise cause them to leave the profession. Mental health support programs available for doctors are, therefore, extremely important.

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