About half of the physicians in the United States experience job related burnout. That's according to a recent survey by the Archive of Internal Medicine.
About 7300 physicians completed surveys, and around 46 percent of those doctors reported at least one major symptom of burnout. Specifically, about 38 percent of doctors report being extremely emotionally exhausted and 29 percent report having "high depersonalization."
Family Practice Physician at Bellin Health Family Medical Center in Algoma Dr. Rob Anderson says though he has never experienced burnout in his career, he has witnessed it with some of his colleagues.
Dr. Anderson says his secret at enjoying work is diversifying –- something that comes naturally with the role of family practitioner. He sees patients at the clinic, in nursing homes, and even home visits as well. He says it all comes back to getting into practicing medicine for the right reasons.
Dr. Anderson also says his out of work routine makes him feel better about going to work; sticking to a healthy diet, working out frequently, and enough time with family are important factors for that.
The abstract for the study from the Archive of Internal Medicine can be found here: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1351351
