MedScape.com released their 2015 Lifestyle Report, that reveals the amount of stress plastic surgeons and dermatologists feel due to their line of work. Their stress derives from a variety of sources and could affect their practice if not properly treated. Statistics show that the intensity of their stress varies based on gender and their exact line of work but overall, many plastic surgeons and dermatologists are feeling the stress.
45% of plastic surgeons and 37% of dermatologists admitted that they are burnt out and having feelings of loss of enthusiasm for their work, a low sense of personal accomplishment and cynicism. Plastic surgeons said that on a scale of 1 (my work does not interfere with my personal life) to 7 (my work interferes so much that I’m thinking of leaving medicine) their overall rating was a 4.28 while dermatologists rated their severity at 4.21. Female plastic surgeons reported to be more stressed out than male surgeons with a 52% to 42% comparison. It was the opposite for dermatologists with 38% of male dermatologists admitted to burn out while 36% of female dermatologists reported feeling burnt out.
What is causing these plastic surgeons and dermatologists to feel stressed and burnt out? MedScape.com reported bureaucratic tasks and the impact of the Affordable Care Act as the top two sources of stress for both groups of doctors. Plastic surgeons expressed that insufficient income, increasing computerization and spending too many hours at work are other major factors in their stress levels. Dermatologists reported other stress factors for them are increasing computerization, too many patients per day and spending too much time at work.
It’s reasonable to assume that burnout and constant feelings of stress will have a negative impact on patient care and the overall success of the doctor’s practice. Controlling the number of hours you work and having a better work-life balance is key to reducing work related stresses. Finding the proper work-life balance to ease the stress and burn out will surely help to increase the success of your business and the happiness of clients and employees.
