Burnout and unhappiness are prevalent throughout gastroenterology, according to Medscape's Gastroenterologist Lifestyle, Happiness & Burnout Report 2019.
Medscape surveyed 15,069 physicians across more than 29 specialties for the report. Respondents were required to practice in the U.S.
Eight statistics:
1. Twenty-two percent of gastroenterologists said they were happy at work, the fourth lowest of any specialty.
2. Outside of work, gastroenterologists said their happiness increased to 51 percent, the 10th lowest of any specialty.
3. Forty-five percent of gastroenterologists said they were burned out, 15 percent said they had casual depression and 2 percent said they were chronically depressed.
4. To cope with burnout, 51 percent of gastroenterologists talked with family/friends, 50 percent exercised and 36 percent isolated themselves from others.
5. The top three leading causes of burnout were too many bureaucratic tasks (72 percent), spending too much time at work (34 percent) and the increased computerization of practices (33 percent).
6. Gastroenterologists said depression most likely manifested itself in their practice by causing them to be easily exasperated by patients (44 percent). Forty-two percent of gastroenterologists said depression didn't impact their practice.
7. Seventy-one percent of gastroenterologists said they previously haven't sought help for burnout or depression nor would they seek help in the future.
8. Twenty-nine percent of gastroenterologists said they'd possibly participate in a workplace program to reduce stress or burnout but were just as unlikely not to participate.