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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Burnout continues to be a pervasive issue among physicians. This part of Medscape's annual Physician Lifestyle Report focuses on their responses to our survey questions about burnout and depression. How prevalent are these factors, and how do they affect physicians' lives? More than 15,000 physicians from 29 specialties responded.
Some totals in this presentation do not equal 100% due to rounding.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Being a cardiologist appears to bring challenges. Cardiologists were among the least likely physicians Medscape surveyed to report that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; only 40% of cardiologists described themselves as such. Other specialties with low happiness scores included public health physicians and oncologists.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
While fairly small percentages of all specialist groups described themselves as "very" or "extremely" happy at work, cardiologists (21%) were among the least likely to do so. Three generalist groups also scored low in this area: internists, intensivists, and family physicians. Ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, pathologists, and dermatologists were among the happiest physicians this year.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-six percent of all physicians surveyed said they are either burned out, depressed, or both. At 46%, cardiologists fell somewhat above the middle among all specialists. The highest rates were reported by neurologists, intensivists, ob/gyns, and family physicians.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
In this year's report, as in prior years', a higher percentage of female cardiologists reported burnout (52%) than did their male peers (41%).
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Survey participants could choose multiple responses to the question of how they personally cope with burnout. Half of cardiologist respondents said they exercise, while somewhat lower percentages talk to family or close friends (39%) or sleep (34%). Although 18% turn to alcohol, very few (2% or less) said they use marijuana, nicotine, or prescription drugs.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Cardiologists who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. More than half (55%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, and over one third selected too many hours at work (39%) or increasing computerization (36%). Just over one quarter (26%) cited lack of respect from administrators or employers.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Cardiologists, at 17%, were among the least likely of all respondents to report that they would seek professional help for burnout, depression, or both. Not surprisingly, psychiatrists were among those most likely to respond affirmatively, along with plastic surgeons, public health physicians, and pediatricians.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Cardiologists were asked to grade their own introversion or extroversion on a scale of 1 (very introverted) to 7 (very extroverted). A slightly higher percentage identified as extroverted (14% responded 6 or 7) versus introverted (11% responded 1 or 2).
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
About a third (34%) of cardiologists who acknowledged having depression reported that they were less engaged, more easily exasperated, or less friendly with staff and peers as a result. Thirty-two percent responded that their depression has no such effect.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Among cardiologists who reported depression, 39% believe that their depression has no effect on patient care. However, about one third acknowledged that because of their depression, they are more easily exasperated by patients, while another third felt less engaged with patients. Thirteen percent admitted that their depression leads to errors they wouldn't otherwise make, and 5% said they make errors that could harm patients.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Cardiologists were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. Only 22% reported that they had.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most cardiologists reported that they are married (81%), and 5% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, just 6% are single, 1% are widowed, and 4% are divorced and not remarried.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More cardiologists reported that they are married to a person in the healthcare field (53%) than to someone outside the field (47%). Of that 53%, 25% are married to another physician and 28% are married to a non-physician working in healthcare.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
When asked whether they have spiritual or religious beliefs, 75% of cardiologists responded that they do and 18% said they do not. Seven percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Almost half (47%) of cardiologists said they have three or fewer close friends, while just over one third (34%) said they have four to six. A gregarious 19% reported that they have seven or more close friends in their circle.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Half of cardiologists surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, while 23% take even more. More than a quarter (27%) take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty percent of cardiologists said they want to lose weight, and about as many (39%) want to maintain their current weight. Only 19% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while 1% would like to gain weight.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion[1] recommends about 2.5 hours of moderate exercise or an hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity per week. Over one third (39%) of cardiologists said they exercise two to three times a week, while 30% do so even more often. In contrast, 21% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and 11% said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Nearly half (49%) of cardiologists reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all. Only 16% said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
This year, physicians were asked what kind of car they drive; they could name as many as applied. BMW, at 22%, was the most popular make among cardiologists, followed by Toyota (18%), Mercedes-Benz and Honda (12%), and Lexus (11%).
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Cardiologist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More than 19,200 physicians in over 27 specialties responded to this year's Medscape compensation survey and told about their compensation, productivity, challenges, and more.Medscape Features Slideshows, April 2017
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Contributor Information
Sarah Grisham
Freelance writer
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Disclosure: Sarah Grisham has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
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