This survey was carried out between June 2 and September 8, 2020. 1,025 doctors were interviewed, the majority of whom were men (54%), all specialties combined: general practitioners, emergency physicians, psychiatrists, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, etc.
Just over half of them work in hospitals (53%) in the public sector and 27% are based in Île de France.
49% of physicians reported having symptoms ofburnout in this year 2020 against 30% in 2018. These are 56% women and Generation X doctors (before age 54), who suffer the most.
The health crisis has accentuated the burnout of doctors
According to the study, the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the severity of burnout symptoms for 63% of doctors. Already tired by their work, some who have contracted Covid-19 now suffer fromchronic fatigue, sleeping troubles and D’anxiety.
In addition, the health crisis has seriously impacted health professionals and their workload which has increased for 70% of doctors, some working more 40h per week. However, intensive work has harmful effects on their health: 38% of the doctors questioned underline that the excessive number of working hours is a factor of their burn-out.
Their “solution” to burnout? Isolation, withdrawal and physical exercise. Indeed, doctors prefer to isolate themselves from others or sleep when they can. The practice of a sport is also beneficial to their mental health. More importantly, more than a quarter of doctors with burnout consider giving up medicine.
Source: Medscape survey
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