Burnout is one of the largest issues affecting healthcare today. In fact, according to a new survey, 44 percent of all physicians are burned out, another 11 percent are colloquially depressed and 4 percent are clinically depressed.
The Medscape National Physician Burnout, Depression & Suicide Report 2019 surveyed more than 15,000 physicians from 29 specialties about burnout and other key areas related to mental health. These are three key findings from the report specifically related to radiology and radiologists:
1. 45 percent of radiologists say they are burned out
This left radiology ranked in the middle of the pack compared to the other 28 specialties. While 54 percent of urologists say they are burned out, making it No. 1, just 28 percent of public health and preventive medicine specialists are burned out, putting them at the bottom of the ranking. Gastroenterology and Ob/Gyn were tied with radiology at 45 percent.
2. 45 percent of radiologists work long hours
Medscape also asked physicians if they worked long hours, which they defined as at least 51 hours per week. While 77 percent of surgeons said they work long hours, radiology’s 45 percent lands it at No. 16 out of 29.
3. 26 percent of radiologists who are burned out or depressed will seek help
Of the radiologists who are burned out or depressed, 26 percent answered that they will seek professional help, landing the specialty in the bottom half of the rankings.
“Of those physicians who are burned out or depressed, psychiatrists are most likely to seek help,” according to the report. “Notably, of those least likely to seek help were three groups among the top five with the longest hours: surgeons, nephrologists and urologists.”
Earlier this year, a separate report from Medscape examined the happiness and self-esteem of physicians. Read more about that report here.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.