The Massachusetts Medical Society surveyed 500 physicians, finding some "not wholly surprising but distressing" news, WBUR reported March 2.
Staffing shortages plague the healthcare system nationwide and more medical professionals are leaving the field due to burnout.
Here are five report findings:
- A majority of participants "experienced symptoms that reach the threshold for burnout."
- Half of physicians said they already have or intend to cut back their clinical hours by June (nearly 27 percent and 24 percent, respectively).
- Of physicians planning to leave the workforce, 14.2 percent said they will "definitely" leave in the next two years while 12.8 percent said it was "likely."
- About 63 percent of female physicians reported symptoms of burnout, compared to 47 percent of male physicians.
- The most common workplace stressors were increased documentation requirements, a lack of available support staff, time devoted to prior authorization needs, nonmedical administrators overreaching into medical decision-making and resource allocation and turnover of staff.