If you’re happy and you know it then you’re probably not an orthopedic surgeon. At least not according to the recent “Medscape Orthopedist Lifestyle, Happiness & Burnout Report 2023: Contentment Amid Stress.”
Orthopedists’ Happiness Declined After Pandemic
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For the latest report, over 9,100 physicians from more than 29 specialties were surveyed. Their responses shined light on how their lifestyle choices impact their happiness. This includes their marriages, family relationships, and personal habits. According to the report, orthopedists also “told poignant stories of how burnout and depression affect them, how these challenges can harm personal and patient relationships, and how they are trying to deal with them.”
Notably, the report compared results from before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. When compared to other specialties, orthopedics was one of the happiest groups outside of work before the pandemic. Of those surveyed, 87% of those in orthopedics reported being “very happy” or “happy” with their lives outside of work. They were the third happiest group, behind pulmonary medicine and pediatrics.
The results are less positive now. While orthopedics remains the third happiest specialty, only 65% of those surveyed report their lives outside of work as “very happy” or “happy.” Orthopedics was the third happiest group behind plastic surgery and public health and preventive medicine. According to the report, all of the specialties are significantly less happy with their lives outside of work now than they were pre-pandemic.
The happiest group, plastic surgery, only had 71% reporting that their lives outside of work were “very happy” or “happy.” Pre-pandemic, 89% of pulmonary medicine reported being “very happy” or “happy” outside of work.
Physicians’ burnout and depression were two more issues addressed in the survey. The report highlights a link between microaggressions and workplace distress as one of the reasons that female physicians continue to report burnout in greater percentages. Of the orthopedists surveyed, 43% of women and 29% of men reported feeling burned out. Additionally, 22% of women and 14% of men reported feeling both burned out and depressed.
How does your experience compare to the survey? Has your happiness changed since the pandemic? Let us know in the comments below.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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