Cardiologists are moderately happy at work compared to other specialists, according to Medscape’s Cardiologist Lifestyle, Happiness & Burnout Report 2019, but they’re still experiencing burnout at record rates.
Medscape’s annual report, published in February, placed cardiologists near the middle of the pack when it came to happiness at work, with just 27 percent of physicians surveyed reporting they were “very or extremely happy” on the job. Cardiologists ranked 15th out of 29 specialties surveyed—general surgeons and OB/GYNs ranked similarly, while plastic surgeons, opthamologists and preventive medicine specialists reported being the happiest.
The report found all physicians were generally happier outside of work than at work, and that included cardiologists. But while cardiologists ranked neither high nor low in the at-work analysis, they ranked third-lowest in a survey about their happiness outside of work. Nearly half of all cardiologists—47 percent, according to Medscape—said they were either very or extremely happy outside of work, but that still didn’t top the percentages of rheumatologists, endocrinologists, radiologists or oncologists who reported the same.
For those unhappy with their work environment, burnout was the most common culprit. Around 43 percent of cardiologists said they’re burned out, which is around the same percentage as other specialties. Another 10 percent are colloquially depressed, and 4 percent are clinically depressed.
Just 7 percent of cardiologists said they allow that depression to affect their patient care directly, the survey revealed, but 10 percent said they make errors they might not ordinarily make if not depressed and 29 percent said they get easily exasperated with patients. Still, the majority of cardiologists (52 percent) said their depression doesn’t affect patient interactions at all.
The most prevalent source of burnout for cardiologists (68 percent of respondents) was “too many bureaucratic tasks”—like charting or excess paperwork—while EHR challenges (40 percent), long work hours (37 percent), lack of respect from employers and colleagues (37 percent) and “feeling like just a cog in a wheel” (23 percent) followed suit. Physicians also cited lack of autonomy, insufficient pay and lack of respect from patients as contributors to burnout.
But, despite the high number of cardiologists who reported burnout, Medscape found just 12 percent are currently seeking professional help and 1 percent are planning to seek help. Most physicians (73 percent) said they haven’t ever sought professional support for their burnout and don’t plan to. Twenty-eight percent said they were unlikely to participate in a workplace program to reduce stress or burnout—much higher than the 8 percent who said they would participate.
On the other hand, half of cardiologists said they cope with burnout with exercise, 42 percent said they play or listen to music, 37 percent said they talk with family or close friends, 34 percent said they isolate themselves and 33 percent said they sleep. Some unhealthier habits also made the list—23 percent of physicians said they cope with the stress by eating junk food, 22 percent said they drink alcohol, 14 percent said they binge eat and 2 percent said they smoke cigarettes or use prescription drugs.
Most cardiologists described their self-esteem as either high or very high (44 percent and 15 percent, respectively), which could have something to do with their home lives. Eighty-nine percent reported they were married, and nearly half of those marriages were “very good.” More than a third of cardiologists also take between three and four weeks of vacation a year, according to the survey, and another one-third take five weeks or more.
Medscape surveyed 15,069 physicians across more than 29 specialties to collect their data, which were collected between July and October 2018.
After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with a bachelor’s in journalism, Anicka joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering cardiology. Close to her heart is long-form journalism, Pilot G-2 pens, dark chocolate and her dog Harper Lee.