Physician Burnout Drops Below 50 Percent

July 10, 2024

After reaching record highs during the pandemic, physician burnout fell below 50 percent during 2023, according to a new report from the American Medical Association (AMA).

The survey, released this month, shows an encouraging trend, but the association noted the need for continued efforts to “address the root causes of physician burnout and ensure that doctors receive the support they need to thrive.”

“Overall, this signals that reported levels of burnout from this group of respondents is less than it was last year and in other years after COVID-19 hit,” said Nancy Nankivil, director of organizational well-being, AMA. “This is moving in the right direction.”

Here’s what you need to know:

• The big takeaway:  About 48 percent of physicians reported experiencing at least one symptom of burnout during 2023. That’s down from 53 percent a year prior.
•  Pandemic record:  The pandemic amplified existing challenges related to physician burnout, which reached a record-high of 62.8 percent during 2021.
• By specialty:  Emergency medicine (56.5%), internal medicine (51.4%), and obstetrics and gynecology (51.2%) had the highest rates of burnout, per the report.
• What it measures:  The report highlights 2023 trends for job satisfaction, job stress, burnout, intent to leave an organization, feeling valued by an organization, and total hours spent per week on work-related activities.
• Quotable:  “The shift marks a milestone in the ongoing battle against physician burnout, but the fight is far from over,” the AMA notes.

Additional information about the AMA survey is available online.