Physician burnout is a significant problem that harms providers, patients, families, and healthcare systems.
But exactly how many physicians are burned out? How many are depressed? Which physicians are most affected? And what causes physician burnout?
This article will answer your questions about physician burnout by summarizing data from Medscape’s latest Physician Burnout & Depression Report.
What is physician burnout?
Physician burnout is a long-term stress reaction that causes providers to lose satisfaction and a sense of efficacy in their work.
Psychologist Christina Maslach first defined three diagnostic symptoms of physician burnout in the 1970s:
- Exhaustion: You experience emotional and physical fatigue and think, “I’m not sure how long I can keep doing this.”
- Compassion fatigue: You are frustrated by patients and families and have thoughts like, “I can’t believe they talked to me that way.”
- Lack of efficacy: You begin to doubt that you are making a difference and wonder, “What’s the use?”
Burnout symptoms can be emotional, physical, or behavioral. You might feel less interested in work, experience tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest, or withdraw from community involvement.
If you think you or your colleagues are experiencing burnout, you might benefit from AMA’s recovery plan for physician burnout. If you are depressed, talk to your healthcare provider or seek mental health support.
Physician burnout in 2024
Each year, Medscape releases a physician burnout and depression report. We’ve summarized the information below from the 2024 report, which surveyed over 9,000 US-based physicians in 29 specialties. You can download the full report from Medscape.com.
Here are seven facts about physician burnout in 2024.
1) 49% of physicians say they are burned out
The number of burned-out physicians is lower than last year but still higher than before the pandemic. In Medscape’s 2024 survey, 49% of physicians said they are burned out, compared to 53% in 2023.
It’s excellent news that burnout rates dropped for the first time since 2020. However, we should still be concerned that half of U.S. physicians suffer symptoms of long-term stress.
2) One out of five physicians say they are depressed
Self-reported rates of depression also dropped to 20% in 2024, down from 23% the previous year.
While burnout often improves with rest or positive workplace changes, depression is a medical diagnosis requiring treatment with therapy or medication. That said, it’s unsurprising to see these numbers move together. Leaving burnout unaddressed may raise your risk of depression.
3) Burnout affects female physicians more than male physicians
Burnout doesn’t affect all physicians equally.
For example, 56% of women reported burnout in Medscape’s latest survey, compared to 44% of men. Many factors cause this discrepancy, but one is mistreatment. Studies have shown clear links between race- and gender-based microaggressions in healthcare and workplace distress.
4) Front-line physicians report more burnout
Physician burnout is also unevenly distributed by specialty.
Burnout rates appear highest among providers in front-line specialties who frequently deliver primary care. Emergency medicine tops the list, with 63% of physicians saying they feel burned out. The next highest rates of burnout are in Ob/Gyn, Oncology, Pediatrics, and Family Medicine.
Specialties that report the lowest rates of physician burnout–just under 40%–are psychiatry, ophthalmology, and plastic surgery.
5) Physicians blame bureaucratic tasks, lack of respect from coworkers, and long hours
What contributes to physician burnout? Medscape asks this question every year, and the top three factors remain surprisingly consistent. Doctors say they feel burned out because of the following:
- Too many bureaucratic tasks
- Too many work hours
- Lack of respect from coworkers
Respondents also point to insufficient compensation, lack of autonomy, EHRs, and patient disrespect, among other factors.
6) Doctors spend nearly 10 hours a week completing EHR documentation
While EHRs aren’t a leading cause of burnout, one quarter (24%) of Medscape’s survey respondents selected “computerization of practice (EHRs)” as a factor that contributes most to their burnout.
Documentation is still a significant stressor for physicians. The average doctor spends nearly 10 hours per week completing EHR documentation, and most physicians believe EHRs contribute to burnout.
7) Only 15% of physicians have sought professional help
While physician burnout affects half of providers, only 15% have consulted a mental health professional in the past. Most doctors are reticent to disclose mental health challenges and choose to manage burnout on their own.
What solutions help physicians cope with burnout?
If you experience burnout, you can learn from the solutions and coping mechanisms others use.
Coping mechanisms can be unhealthy, such as eating junk food, binge eating, or drinking alcohol. While some physicians use these tactics, most report healthy coping behaviors such as:
- Spending time with family/friends (78%)
- Activities/hobbies (71%)
- Exercise (50%)
- Getting enough sleep (51%)
- Healthy eating (48%)
Workplace measures also have an essential role to play in alleviating physician burnout in 2024. Providers say the most helpful actions would be increased compensation, adding support staff, and making work schedules more flexible.
There is growing discussion about physician unions as a last-ditch way to get healthcare management and ownership to pay more attention to physicians’ challenges. In the 2023 Medscape report, half of respondents said a union would help combat burnout, and about a third said they were unsure.
Healthcare workplaces are taking note, but they still have work to do. In this year’s Medscape survey, nearly half of the respondents said their employers weren’t paying enough attention to burnout levels in their physician staff.