More than one third (37%) of orthopedic physicians are burned-out, according to the Medscape Orthopedist Lifestyle, Happiness, and Burnout Report 2022.

Orthopedics ranked among the least burned-out specialties, along with oncology (36%), pathology (35%), dermatology (33%) and public health and preventive medicine (26%). Emergency medicine (60%) and critical care (56%) had the highest reported rates of burnout. Across all specialties, 47% of physicians reported burnout, a higher proportion than last year (42%).

This new report was compiled from an online survey that included more than 13,000 physicians from 29 specialties, of which 2% of respondents were orthopedists. Most respondents (61%) were male, and 38% were female. The most common age of respondents was 55–64 (31%), followed by 45–54 (25%) and those 65 years or older (20%). The survey was available from June 29, 2021, to September 26, 2021.

The main contributor to orthopedist burnout was too many bureaucratic tasks (65%). Increasing computerization of practice (39%), insufficient pay (33%), lack of respect from colleagues (31%), lack of control in life (30%), and government regulations (29%) were also contributing factors. Stress from treating COVID-19 patients (4%) as well as social distancing and other societal issues related to the pandemic (8%) ranked lowest among orthopedic respondents as causes for work-related exhaustion.

More than half of respondents (53%) said they were more burned-out now than during the initial months of the pandemic; 43% said their burnout was unchanged. Two thirds of orthopedists (66%) said that burnout negatively affected their personal relationships.

To alleviate burnout, orthopedists reduced their work hours (29%), made workflow or staff changes to ease their workload (28%), and participated in meditation or other stress reduction techniques (22%). Half of respondents (50%) said they would take a pay cut to have a better work-life balance, which was a slightly lower percentage than physicians overall (55%).

While nearly quarter of physicians overall (24%) reported having clinical depression, the percentage was slightly lower among orthopedists (19%). More than half of depressed orthopedists (51%) said their depression did not affect interactions with patients. If depression did affect daily practice, it most frequently caused respondents to be easily exasperated with patients (47%). Respondents also said they were less careful taking notes and sometimes expressed their frustration in front of patients (both 19%).

Orthopedics ranked in the top ten specialties with the happiest marriages, with 86% of respondents describing their marriage as “very good” or “good.” Allergy and Immunology tied with otolaryngology (both 91%) as the specialties that most frequently reported marital happiness, while plastic surgery placed last (75%).

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 85% of orthopedists said they were “very happy” or “somewhat happy” with their life outside of work. This percentage has now dropped to 70% but is still higher than that of physicians overall (59%). To maintain their well-being, orthopedists reported exercising (71%), spending time with family and friends (66%), and doing non–work-related hobbies (64%). Respondents also said that they prioritized getting enough sleep (48%) and eating healthy (42%) to promote their happiness and mental health.

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