Physician burnout may be on the decline in 2024 following years of steady increases brought, in part, by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is still well above pre-pandemic levels.
About 49% of physicians report feeling burned out this year, according to Medscape's 2024 "Physician Burnout and Depression Report," published Jan. 24.
For the report, Medscape polled 9,226 practicing U.S. physicians across more than 29 specialties from July 5 to Oct. 9.
Physician burnout sat at 41% in 2020, rising to 42% in 2021, 47% in 2022 and 53% in 2023. Additionally, 20% of physicians report feeling depressed in 2024, down from 23% in 2023.
Emergency medicine physicians were named the most burnt out specialists, with 63% reporting burnout in 2024.