Physician Burnout Article

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Mildly depressing article from JAMA Internal Medicine from last year. I don't think I can post the whole article due to copyright issues (but let me know if I'm wrong about that).

http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1351351

I'm curious if this is something pre-meds think much about and what strategies you plan to employ to make sure you don't find yourself in the unhappy group?

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[solesurprise]

I find it really interesting that Family Medicine was one of the specialties that showed the highest rates of burnout.

 

[GopherMD]

I find it really interesting that Family Medicine was one of the specialties that showed the highest rates of burnout.

Not really surprised. PCPs see a lot of patients everyday with little time in between. The reimbursement levels for family medicine is also the lowest on average compared to other specialties.

High stress-low pay= burnout

 

[EnginrTheFuture]

I certainly do not find it surprising... they work at a very rapid pace, see a lot of patients in a day, many own their own practices and are struggling on the business side of things and they are paid less than many of their colleagues. Family practice physicians work very very hard on many fronts. I give them props.

 

[syoung]

Especially if they are affiliated with a hospital that forces 10-15 min / patient...

 

[solitarius]

Not so surprised when I see the types of people in my biochemistry class.

The sample is based on voluntary participation. Is there bias? Do dissatisfied people take a higher chance at an opportunity to vent?

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Old news son...I think there was even a thread about this a while ago

 

[circulus vitios]

I find it really interesting that Family Medicine was one of the specialties that showed the highest rates of burnout.

You don't see how treating diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and ADHD every day for the rest of your life could cause burnout?

 

[Microglia]

Anyone else find it interesting how high neurology ranks in burnout?

 

[Lollygag]

You don't see how treating diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and ADHD every day for the rest of your life could cause burnout?

No, but I would think neurosurgery, trauma surgery, emergency medicine-- specialties that are known for either extremely long hours or high stress environments, would rank higher.

I can't see the data because I'm on my phone and it says I need to subscribe. But I was surprised as well that family medicine doctors burn out so quickly. It never occurred to me how demanding their job is.

 

[starfar]

I find it really interesting that Family Medicine was one of the specialties that showed the highest rates of burnout.

Really??I shadowed a FP doc last year and boy was she unhappy.. Between 3-4hours of paperwork at the end of her day on average and the absolutely ridiculous letters she had to write insurance companies for patients and forms forms forms.. 👎

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

No, but I would think neurosurgery, trauma surgery, emergency medicine-- specialties that are known for either extremely long hours or high stress environments, would rank higher.

I can't see the data because I'm on my phone and it says I need to subscribe. But I was surprised as well that family medicine doctors burn out so quickly. It never occurred to me how demanding their job is.

EM was number 1.

 

[solesurprise]

You don't see how treating diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and ADHD every day for the rest of your life could cause burnout?

Sure, I can see that. I'm not unaware of what Family Medicine doctors do, I have a few in my family. I wasn't trying to downplay the importance/stress levels of Family Medicine, just expressing surprise that it had as comparatively high burnout levels among physicians as it did. Using your logic, you'd expect dermatologists to be facing high burnout because of treating acne every day for the rest of their lives.

I would have expected the highest burnout in the surgical specialties, cancer specialties, maybe neuro specialties.

 

[GopherMD]

Sure, I can see that. I'm not unaware of what Family Medicine doctors do, I have a few in my family. I wasn't trying to downplay the importance/stress levels of Family Medicine, just expressing surprise that it had as comparatively high burnout levels among physicians as it did. Using your logic, you'd expect dermatologists to be facing high burnout because of treating acne every day for the rest of their lives.

I would have expected the highest burnout in the surgical specialties, cancer specialties, maybe neuro specialties.

Derm pay >>>> family med pay

 

[Lollygag]

EM was number 1.

Thanks I can see it now that I'm on a computer

 

[PennDippody]

I think its interesting that some specialties (like Oto) higher burnout rates yet seem to be relatively more satisfied/have time for family.

Others, perhaps more expectantly, that have the least burnout (like derm) are also most satisfied/have time for family.

 

[Narmerguy]

I posted a similar article here that had some good responses: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=943239

I imagine most premeds don't think about it that much because they don't have the luxury of already being a doctor. Many of us would simply be happy to become physicians, even if there's a chance that we'll get burnt out. For physicians, they've already cleared that hurdle so they don't really have to worry about that. They just deal with the realities of the job and perhaps many of them came into the field expecting something different entirely. It's not a pretty cycle.

Personally, I don't worry about this too much because I'm generally a happy person. When things are bad they're bad and when they're good they're great, but for the most part I'm pretty happy with my life and don't find much that gets me down for longer than a day or two. I think how we approach life is incredibly important in protecting us from day to day stresses.

 

[MusicJunkie]

I thought this article was really cool:

http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/lifestyle/2012/public

The lifestyle report. Happiness according to specialty, what physicians do in their free time, where physicians fall politically, etc.

 

[Black Mamba24]

I posted a similar article here that had some good responses: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=943239

I imagine most premeds don't think about it that much because they don't have the luxury of already being a doctor. Many of us would simply be happy to become physicians, even if there's a chance that we'll get burnt out. For physicians, they've already cleared that hurdle so they don't really have to worry about that. They just deal with the realities of the job and perhaps many of them came into the field expecting something different entirely. It's not a pretty cycle.

Personally, I don't worry about this too much because I'm generally a happy person. When things are bad they're bad and when they're good they're great, but for the most part I'm pretty happy with my life and don't find much that gets me down for longer than a day or two. I think how we approach life is incredibly important in protecting us from day to day stresses.

👍 That's a great way to approach life and I'd like to think that I'm the same way.

 

[gmcguitar4]

Personally, I don't worry about this too much because I'm generally a happy person. When things are bad they're bad and when they're good they're great, but for the most part I'm pretty happy with my life and don't find much that gets me down for longer than a day or two. I think how we approach life is incredibly important in protecting us from day to day stresses.

You and I are very similar. Most people stress out and make big deals of little things that really don't matter in the grand scheme of things. When faced with a problem, I just try to work out a solution and if it can be solved, great. If not..well sh**. I always manage to stay happy though no matter what else is going on. I am still blown away by the fact that I am alive and how awesome that is! You guys think med school is competitive..pshh. Try outswimming 50 million other sperm for 1 spot..oh wait you already did...unless you have a twin/triplet/etc.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

I posted a similar article here that had some good responses: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=943239

I imagine most premeds don't think about it that much because they don't have the luxury of already being a doctor. Many of us would simply be happy to become physicians, even if there's a chance that we'll get burnt out. For physicians, they've already cleared that hurdle so they don't really have to worry about that. They just deal with the realities of the job and perhaps many of them came into the field expecting something different entirely. It's not a pretty cycle.

Personally, I don't worry about this too much because I'm generally a happy person. When things are bad they're bad and when they're good they're great, but for the most part I'm pretty happy with my life and don't find much that gets me down for longer than a day or two. I think how we approach life is incredibly important in protecting us from day to day stresses.

Thanks for the link. I guess I just find it surprising that many of the posts (and the general sentiment) tends to be "lol everyone hates their job." But if you look at the data you see that's not true.

Most people's optimism and idealism comes from somewhere deep within, and that may be enough to carry them through an entire career. But if you go in without at least recognizing dissatisfaction as a possibility and formulating a strategy to prevent it from happening, that seems to me like recipe for disaster.

 

[syoung]

You and I are very similar. Most people stress out and make big deals of little things that really don't matter in the grand scheme of things. When faced with a problem, I just try to work out a solution and if it can be solved, great. If not..well sh**. I always manage to stay happy though no matter what else is going on. I am still blown away by the fact that I am alive and how awesome that is! You guys think med school is competitive..pshh. Try outswimming 50 million other sperm for 1 spot..oh wait you already did...unless you have a twin/triplet/etc.

👍 WE'RE all winners here... in this life

 

[mulberry]

You don't see how treating diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and ADHD every day for the rest of your life could cause burnout?

Internists shouldn't even be diagnosing ADHD or prescribing stuff like adderall. That's for the psychiatrist to take care of.

 

[gettheleadout]

You don't see how treating diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and ADHD every day for the rest of your life could cause burnout?

You mean malingering teens who want to cram with hyperfocus the night before their tests?

Internists shouldn't even be diagnosing ADHD or prescribing stuff like adderall. That's for the psychiatrist to take care of.

Not everyone can get a psych referral covered by their insurance (if they have insurance) or can get an appointment with one in their area, etc.

 

[circulus vitios]

Internists shouldn't even be diagnosing ADHD or prescribing stuff like adderall. That's for the psychiatrist to take care of.

I shadowed several FM physicians and saw a ton of ADHD medication adjustments. I assume they prescribe the meds if they're doing adjustments, but I could be wrong.