Neurologists are tied for the least happy of all physicians

[longwindingroad]

Recent medscape research has revealed neurologists to be tied for the least happy of all physicians. The linked article seems to imply that finances are the primary cause of neurologist's low happiness ratings. But my understanding has been that neurologists can do pretty well for themselves financially if they enter a procedural subspecialty such as electrophysiology or sleep medicine and have a decent life style as well. I am but a mere first year but Im most interested in neurology at this point and im wondering how much I should allow this data to influence whether or not I decide to enter neurology. Are better earning subspecialists in neurology just as unhappy as general neurologists? Any reactions or insights would be most appreciated.

heres the article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/760806

Also what could lead to rheumatologists to be so high up on the happiness scale? Its not like they are raking it in. Do rheumatologists just enjoy their patient population much more than do neurologists?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[danielmd06]

Recent medscape research has revealed neurologists to be tied for the least happy of all physicians. The linked article seems to imply that finances are the primary cause of neurologist's low happiness ratings. But my understanding has been that neurologists can do pretty well for themselves financially if they enter a procedural subspecialty such as electrophysiology or sleep medicine and have a decent life style as well. I am but a mere first year but Im most interested in neurology at this point and im wondering how much I should allow this data to influence whether or not I decide to enter neurology. Are better earning subspecialists in neurology just as unhappy as general neurologists? Any reactions or insights would be most appreciated.

heres the article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/760806

Also what could lead to rheumatologists to be so high up on the happiness scale? Its not like they are raking it in. Do rheumatologists just enjoy their patient population much more than do neurologists?

Mescape is asking for a login prior to viewing the article, so I didn't read it. But...

My advice is that "research" like this is usually just balderdash. There was some book on how to choose a residency that I remember buying as a third year medical student and trying to read. It was written by an EM physician. Not surprisingly, EM was ranked incredibly high on the happiness meter.

I could certainly be wrong, but I remember thinking at the time that it (and thus polls, articles, and books like it) was just an exercise in propaganda and ulterior motives by the authors at worst and misguided at best.

But to each his own.

In my mind you simply cannot look at a graph, article, or book and predict what specialy will make you happy or unhappy. You just can't. Yeah, you can view average salaries and weekly hours but most senior people know that those numbers are incredibly variable based on your own desires and the way you tailor your practice.

You have to roll your sleeves up and go investigate to learn about a specialty.

You may have been seeking a broader discussion about the ups and downs of neurology. It would be a herculean post and you may find few takers for that reason. I can tell you that on this top page of neurology threads alone you can find pros and cons debated a fair bit.

Lastly, and to allude back to your original query, I am extremely happy with my career decision, and make much more than I was given to expect looking at graphs of neurology salaries three years back. If I had it to do over again, I would go in precisely the same direction. No question.

 

[HarveyCushing]

I always thought of medscape at the National Enquirer of medicine. Haha

 

[PMPMD]

Recent medscape research has revealed neurologists to be tied for the least happy of all physicians. The linked article seems to imply that finances are the primary cause of neurologist's low happiness ratings. But my understanding has been that neurologists can do pretty well for themselves financially if they enter a procedural subspecialty such as electrophysiology or sleep medicine and have a decent life style as well. I am but a mere first year but Im most interested in neurology at this point and im wondering how much I should allow this data to influence whether or not I decide to enter neurology. Are better earning subspecialists in neurology just as unhappy as general neurologists? Any reactions or insights would be most appreciated.

heres the article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/760806

Also what could lead to rheumatologists to be so high up on the happiness scale? Its not like they are raking it in. Do rheumatologists just enjoy their patient population much more than do neurologists?

Not sure if this is the same "data":

http://www.advisory.com/Daily-Briefing/2012/03/28/Survey-Which-physicians-are-happiest

The happiest physicians
Survey participants were asked to rate their happiness on a five-point scale. Based on the survey findings, the top 10 happiest physician specialties were:
1.*Rheumatology (4.09/5);
2.*Dermatology (4.05);
3.*Urology (4.04);
4.*Ophthalmology (4.03);
5.*Emergency Medicine (4.01);
6.*Pediatrics (4.00);
6.*Anesthesiology (4.00);
8.*Psychiatry and mental health (3.99);
8.*Radiology (3.99); and
10.*Family medicine (3.97).

The happiest physicians tended to exercise regularly, maintain an average weight, consume one to two drinks per day, and not smoke. They also were in good financial shape, married, and participated in a religious organization. Happiness tended to be greatest among physicians who were over 60 years of age.
The least happy physicians
Meanwhile, the 10 least happy physician specialties were:
1.*Neurology (3.88);
1.*Gastroenterology (3.88);
1.*Internal medicine (3.88);
4.*Oncology (3.89);
4.*General surgery (3.89);
4.*Plastic surgery (3.89);
5.*Diabetes and endocrinology (3.90);
5.*Nephrology (3.90);
5.*Critical care (3.90); and
10.*Cardiology (3.92).*

So there's a 5% difference on an arbitrary scale (3.88 vs 4.05) between the least and most "happy" specialties. On a survey.

 

[HarveyCushing]

EM @ #5 seems like a joke. Haven't seen a group of unhappier ER docs than at our local ERs. Talk about a malignant speciality. What is their burnout rate again?

So if I am interested in neurology and critical care does that mean I will be doubly unhappy? Lol

 

[RAD345]

3.88 vs. 4.09 !?

I am not sure about how these data are statistically significant but most of doctors are not happy theses days when the role models in America are singers and actors. This is not just about neurology

 

[copes]

EM @ #5 seems like a joke. Haven't seen a group of unhappier ER docs than at our local ERs. Talk about a malignant speciality. What is their burnout rate again?

So if I am interested in neurology and critical care does that mean I will be doubly unhappy? Lol

That is weird because the ER guys at my school are awesome and down to earth. They seem very happy and content. Our ER doesn't tend to get that crazy though, so maybe that's why.

 

[danielmd06]

That is weird because the ER guys at my school are awesome and down to earth. They seem very happy and content. Our ER doesn't tend to get that crazy though, so maybe that's why.

EM people tend to be very, very happy as residents and less so when they get into the real world (again, depending on personality, where they are practicing, etc). In fact, there is an interesting thread in the EM forum now arguing over whether or not EM is a "lifestyle" specialty with more senior people tending to argue "no" and more junior people arguing "yes."

 

[Jorje286]

A lot of people here also don't seem to be very enthusiastic about their own specialty, especially in regards to all of those pain patients. Neuro right now is still #1 for me, before hitting the hospital. It's going to be a major battleground between Psych and Neuro... we'll see.

 

[Septo Shock]

Surveys like these provide more job security for the rest of us

 

[Mattchiavelli]

yeah, survey data = bogus until proven otherwise.

I too do not have access to the original article as I don't want a medscape account, but it would be interesting to know what % of those polled actually responded. The people who are the least happy are those that did not really know what they were getting into or had such a sure view of their field as they were training they failed to notice the things that were incongruent with their view. Example- EM folks thinking it would be all MVAs, STEMIs, and crush injuries when it actually is a lot of fender benders, "chest pain"s, and renewals of prescriptions for patient's that don't know how to access healthcare properly.

Anyone looking into what specialty to choose needs to honestly evaluate the field and come up with the negatives about it and see if they are less negative to you perhaps, or if the benefits outweigh the negatives. For example in our field one of the negatives can be that there are not a lot of curative options for our disease and neurologists do a lot of palliation, but for me it's not as much of a negative because I like the long term patient relationship that kind of management engenders. To me, I see equal success in taking off an SCC from an old vet's ear as I do controlling their parkinsons to a point where they can now manage their ADLs and live independently, whereas some will look at the former as a win and the latter as a fail. To each his or her own.

 

[HarveyCushing]

Hope more med students read the article and shy away from the field. :evil motive: