Burnout rates among physicians high, according to new survey

Doctors are experiencing burnout at higher rates than other professionals – according to new research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers surveyed 7,288 physicians nationwide and found that 45.8% reported experiencing at least one symptom of serious burnout, such as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a low sense of personal accomplishment.

Study author Tait D. Shanafelt, MD, a professor of medicine in the Dept. of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, said burnout is leading more physicians to retire early or shift away from clinical practice.

In their weekly conversation, WHYY’s behavioral health reporter Maiken Scott and psychologist Dan Gottlieb discuss this research and the impact of burnout on medical care.

Gottlieb said that burnout could contribute to worse patient care, increased medical errors and loss of well-trained and experienced staff.