Happy Doctors

Dissatisfied physicians are less inclined to give charity care.

Physician burnout, fatigue, and dissatisfaction make many physicians unhappy. Burnout results from lack of control, excessive workload, paperwork, off-fulcrum work balance, and continual dealings with patient pain and suffering. Greater emotional exhaustion and stress can interfere with patient care. Burned-out physicians make more medical errors, have less empathy, find patients less compliant and less satisfied, and retire earlier. Burnout may also be associated with less altruism and less desire to meet the needs of the underserved.

To test this hypothesis, investigators surveyed 3897 randomly selected practicing U.S. physicians from all specialties. Respondents rated levels of fatigue, satisfaction with practicing medicine, and degree to…

Reviewing Author

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)