Burnout among cardiologists has risen by 2% since last year, with 66% reporting they have felt burned out for at least 13 months, compared to 64% in 2023, a recent Medscape report found.
The "Medscape Cardiologist Burnout & Depression Report 2024," published March 29, surveyed 9,226 physicians across more than 29 specialities between July 5 and Oct. 9.
Seventeen percent of cardiologists reported that their burnout was so severe that they may leave medicine, and only 3% reported that burnout does not affect their life.
Here are six more things to know about cardiologist burnout:
- Cardiologists said the top contributors to burnout were too many bureaucratic tasks (69%), too many hours at work (43%) and a lack of respect from administrators/employers, colleagues or staff (40%).
- About 72% of cardiologists said their employer seemed to recognize burnout problems "a lot" or "somewhat."
- Workplace measures cardiologists said what would help most with their burnout included adding support staff (49%), increasing physician control/autonomy (49%) and making work schedules more flexible (47%).
- Sixty-seven percent of cardiologists reported burnout affecting their personal relationships.
- When asked if an open dialog with co-workers could help burnout, 46% said no, 25% were unsure and 29% said yes.
- The top coping mechanisms for cardiologists were talking with family members and close friends (54%), exercise (52%) and playing or listening to music (34%).