• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Psychiatry

Factors related to suicide and burnout among physicians

byBrian DoughertyandAlex Chan
June 20, 2020
in Psychiatry
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. Physicians who committed suicide tended to be older, report having issues with their jobs, and have ongoing physical health or legal issues.

2. Compared with other physicians, surgeons who committed suicide were older and more likely to be receiving care related to mental health.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Study Rundown: Burnout is becoming increasingly prevalent amongst physicians, and has been shown to lead to poor health outcomes for both the individual and their patients. Prior literature has demonstrated that suicide and burnout have significant overlap in terms of risk factors. To expand upon these findings, this study made use of deaths recorded in the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) between 2003 and 2016 to identify modifiable risk factors as well as particular groups at increased risk.

In this retrospective cohort study, physicians committing suicide tended to be older on average compared with the general population. They were also more likely to be further along in their careers (i.e., past residency), report Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry, job issues, civil legal problems, and ongoing medical concerns. They were less likely to report experiencing intimate partner violence, problems with alcohol use, black ancestry, female sex, or being unmarried. When compared with non-surgeon physicians, surgeons were at the time off death more likely to be receiving care for mental health and be older. No association was found between physician suicide and substance use.

This study was limited by a relatively homogenous study cohort consisting mostly of white men, which may limit generalizability of findings. Additionally, the study did not make comparisons with individuals, both physicians and otherwise, who died of causes other than suicide; thus, it remains unclear whether the risk factors identified are unique to death by means of suicide among physicians. Nonetheless, study findings identified several risk factors associated with physician suicide and burnout, and reinforce the need for robust and accessible social services available to support physicians across all levels of training.

Click here to read the study in JAMA Surgery

RELATED REPORTS

Operating the day after performing surgery the previous night not associated with adverse patient outcomes

Gratitude-focused writing may improve mental wellness during periods of chronic stress

Virtual yoga and meditation intervention may be associated with increased health-related quality of life

Click here to read an accompanying editorial in JAMA Surgery

Relevant reading: Interventions to prevent and reduce physician burnout: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In-depth [retrospective cohort study]: The NVDRS identified 170,030 individuals (M [SD] age = 46.8 [31.5] years, 77.7% male, 87.8% white) between 2003 and 2016 as committing suicide, 767 of whom were physicians (M [SD] age = 59.6 [15.6] years, 88.0% male, 89.7% white). The physician cohort was further subdivided by specialty to include 485 non-surgeon physicians (M [SD] age = 59.7 [15.6] years, 84.3% male, 89.1% white), 179 dentists (M [SD] age = 61.7 [14.3] years, 93.3% male, 93.3% white), and 103 surgeons (M [SD] age = 64.2 [15.5] years, 96.1% male, 86.4% white), comprised of numerous surgical subspecialties.

Among physicians and non-physicians alike, the most common method of suicide was self-harm via firearm. Physicians who committed suicide were, on average, older than members of the general population who commit suicide (OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.003 to 1.004, p <0.001). A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that they were also more likely to be of Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.96 to 3.99, p <0.001), experiencing job stressors (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.49 to 2.17, p <0.001), involved with civil legal issues (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.26, p = 0.006), and coping with ongoing health problems (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.64, p <0.001). Comparing surgeons to non-surgeon physicians revealed older age at the time of death (M [SD] age = 64.2 [15.5] years vs 59.7 [15.6] years, OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.05, p = 0.002). Surgeons were also more likely to be receiving care related to mental health (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.74, p = 0.04).

Image: PD

©2020 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: burnoutphysician burnoutstresssuicide
Previous Post

#VisualAbstract: Risk of QT Interval Prolongation Associated With Use of Hydroxychloroquine With or Without Concomitant Azithromycin

Next Post

Risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 higher among black patients in Atlanta, Georgia

RelatedReports

Quick Take: Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia versus thoracic epidural analgesia after open liver surgery
Public Health

Operating the day after performing surgery the previous night not associated with adverse patient outcomes

May 24, 2022
Quick Take: Effect of Developmentally Adapted Cognitive Processing Therapy for Youth With Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Childhood Sexual and Physical Abuse
Psychiatry

Gratitude-focused writing may improve mental wellness during periods of chronic stress

May 24, 2022
Exercise intervention linked to reduced functional decline among elderly patients admitted to the hospital
Wellness

Virtual yoga and meditation intervention may be associated with increased health-related quality of life

May 20, 2022
Association of Use of Oral Contraceptives With Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents and Young Women
Wellness

Wellness Check: Mental Health

May 19, 2022
Next Post
Herpes simplex virus infection uncommon in infants undergoing meningitis evaluation

Risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 higher among black patients in Atlanta, Georgia

#VisualAbstract: Randomized Trial of Lactin-V to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis

#VisualAbstract: Randomized Trial of Lactin-V to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis

Long-term outcomes for off-pump and on-pump CABG are similar

Deterioration of left ventricular ejection fraction to mid-range ejection fraction associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular events

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

Get 2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Pelvic lymph node radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy augment progression-free status following prostatectomy
  • Operating the day after performing surgery the previous night not associated with adverse patient outcomes
  • Gratitude-focused writing may improve mental wellness during periods of chronic stress
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.