It is common knowledge that medicine is a stressful, demanding career. But the last couple of years have been particularly tough on doctors. According to a recent Medscape poll, burnout rates among clinicians rose from 42% in 2011 to 47% in 2022.
As could be expected, emergency and critical care physicians have the highest burnout rate among all specialties, with over 60% of ER doctors reporting symptoms of burnout, including long-term stress and depersonalization due to physical and psychological exhaustion. That is not to say, however, that burnout is not highly prevalent across all medical specialties; more than half of infectious disease, gynecology and obstetrics, rheumatology, and urology physicians also report high rates of chronic exhaustion.
Many of the current conditions of physician burnout are unique to this particular point in time. There’s no denying the fact that the ongoing pandemic has exerted a staggering amount of stress on all healthcare workers across the globe. But the fact of the matter is that physician burnout has been increasing dramatically – and with no sign of stopping on the horizon –for years. Unfortunately, burned out doctors are more likely to commit critical medical errors, leave practice, and develop mental health conditions such as depression and generalized anxiety disorder.
So, what exactly is causing this public health crisis that’s impacting the health and wellbeing of not only our nation’s clinicians (and their patients), but the entire healthcare ecosystem? And what actions can physicians take to reclaim their purpose and improve their quality of life without sacrificing their mental health or passion?
Leading Causes of Physician Burnout
Many things, both personal and system-related, can cause physician burnout. For example, a clinician’s overall mood and personality can play a role in their burnout levels, as can extenuating circumstances, such as illness, divorce, accidents, or serious family problems. However, the majority of factors related to the present physician burnout crisis are related to the job itself and the current state of the healthcare system.
Here are three of the common causes of physician burnout, other than the practice of clinical medicine:
Having to complete too many bureaucratic tasks: most doctors didn’t go into medicine to sit in front of a computer filling charts and doing endless paperwork. Yet, according to a 2019 report, 74% of clinicians say they spend 10 hours or more weekly on administrative tasks alone, and 36% said they spend more than 20 hours a week.
A chaotic work environment: medicine is inherently unpredictable, but when you add overcrowded hospitals, after-hours workloads, care professional staffing shortages, and complex electronic health record and monitoring systems, doctors can see a sharp rise in burnout symptoms.
The pressure of perfection: perfectionism is prevalent and often directly and indirectly encouraged in medicine. This unattainable drive is associated with increased anxiety, depression, and higher suicide rates.
Ways to Reduce Burnout
Clinicians are taught in med school about the potential errors that could happen due to physician burnout, but they are rarely taught how to manage or avoid it. The physician burnout crisis can only be addressed by making profound institutional changes. But there are also things that can be done at the individual level to overcome burnout.
Consider working Locum Tenens: Locum Tenens has its own pros and cons, but many physicians find that changing scenery and work dynamics can be an effective strategy for reducing symptoms of burnout.
Rely on teamwork: medicine, by nature, relies on multidisciplinary collaboration. Moreover, studies show that better teamwork is associated with lower rates of clinician burnout, increased patient safety, and reduced medical errors.
Make sleep a priority: evidence shows that most physicians are not getting the amount of sleep they need to function at their best. Although it is easier said than done, prioritizing sleep can go a long way in addressing many of the underlying causes of physician burnout, such as exhaustion, body aches, and depression.
In Closing
Physician burnout is a very real syndrome that causes physical and mental exhaustion, reduces productivity, and increases the likelihood of preventable medical errors. Addressing this public health crisis shouldn’t be left to doctors and healthcare professionals alone, as individual modifications are certainly not going to solve the problem. But with knowledge about the signs and causes of burnout, physicians and hospital administrators can be better equipped to manage and prevent this unfortunate yet prevalent issue.
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