The American Gastrointestinal Association's Institute Education and Training Committee surveyed 600 gastroenterologists to collect their thoughts on burnout.
The survey, published in AGA Perspectives, determined 54 percent of gastroenterologists identified as burnt out.
Here are six other findings:
1. Approximately 62 percent of female gastroenterologists felt burnt out compared to 51 percent of male gastroenterologists.
2. Burnout remained consistent among different career levels. It was surprising to the surveyors, however, that 50 percent of GI fellows report feeling burnt out.
3. Top drivers of burnout include:
- Sacrificing personal time for work-related activities: 50 percent
- Increasing imposition of external regulatory burdens: 42 percent
4. These factors didn't drive burnout:
- The medical knowledge component of practice: 9 percent
- Stresses associated with mastering and performing endoscopy procedures: 6 percent
5. Burnout affected several aspects of gastroenterologists' life. These include: quality of life, likelihood to exercise, the pursuit of personal hobbies and volunteer activities.
6. Burnout impacted family relationship the least.
The author wrote, "Faced with the stresses leading to burnout, 1) we are prone to preserve and value our family relationships, but at the expense of sacrificing activities that also likely protect us to some degree from burnout as well as depression, and 2) any threats or disruptions to the safety lines symbolized by these family bonds may threaten a more abrupt collapse of those supports that protect us from burnout and depression."