A survey conducted by the Mayo Clinic revealed that physicians have faced a downward trend in mental health stability over the past several years. Professional burnout appears to be the primary cause, along with job dissatisfaction, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, mental health stability appeared to be on a decline even prior to COVID-19. Depression is especially reason for concern among healthcare professionals, along with anxiety and other mental health problems. Recent statistics don’t look any brighter either.
According to these recent studies:
- Up to 78% of physicians have exhibited signs of burnout
- 67% of physicians declared that they know someone who will quit medicine within the next 5 years due to burnout
- 25% of those interviewed claimed that, if they could turn back time, they would choose another specialization/job
- Female physicians experience 60% increased burnout rates compared to their male counterparts
- Physicians are two times more likely to commit suicide compared to the general population
- Female physicians are 250-400% more likely to commit suicide compared to their male counterparts
- Physicians are less inclined to look at mental healthcare
- Physicians are more likely to self-medicate
These statistics are worrying and the general trend even more so. Poor healthcare, combined with burnout and job-related stress, can have devastating consequences on a doctor’s psyche. It’s no wonder that up to 15.3% of US surgeons and up to 18.9% of Danish physicians display signs of alcohol dependence.
Plus, physicians in dire need of mental healthcare also display poor relationships with their patients and even coworkers. In this sense, 47% of the doctors were more irritable with their staff, 35% showed poor patience when interacting with their patients, and 26% were careless when taking patient notes.
Suicidal ideation is also a massive problem. A 2022 study revealed that suicidal tendencies among physicians were spread across multiple specialties but were especially prevalent in those with higher shortages. Otolaryngology was at the top of the list with 13%, followed closely by psychiatry, family medicine, and anesthesiology. Pulmonology was at the end of the list with 4%.
Despite these grim statistics, there are ways to correct the trend. And it all needs to address physician’s mental healthcare at a systemic level.
A Potential Solution to the Mental Healthcare Problems Among Physicians
The value-based healthcare model is one potential solution to the burnout experienced by so many physicians. This model implies redirecting more resources to the primary care sector to improve the doctor-patient relationship and relieve physicians of some of the work-related stress.
One relevant measure to help in that sense would be limiting patient panels. This will redistribute healthcare providers across a shorter range of patients. In turn, the physicians will have more time to interact with their patients, eventually leading to improved doctor-patient relationships and superior healthcare outcomes.
In the grand scheme of things, such a measure would be highly effective at alleviating the burnout linked to the medical sphere.
With offices in Miami, Miramar, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and West Palm Beach, Primary Medical Care Center is a leader in full-risk primary care, distinguished by its innovative philosophy and unique physician-led culture that delivers coordinated, world-class primary care to the most vulnerable populations, particularly moderate- to low-income seniors with complicated chronic diseases.