A recent study conducted by Jackson Physician Search and LocumTenens.com found that while most physicians still view medicine as a calling, that feeling deteriorates over the course of their careers.
The report, “Is Medicine Still a Calling? Exploring Physician Attitudes About Purpose in Medicine,” surveyed more than 1,200 physicians and advanced practice providers across several different specialties.
Here are six takeaways from the report:
1. The vast majority of respondents, 90%, saw medicine as a calling when they began. But more than half say that the feeling has diminished over time.
2. However, 50% of respondents still indicated high or fairly high levels of engagement at work.
3. There were significant differences based on specialty. Women’s medicine (70%), general medicine (68%) and behavioral medicine (63%) were the most likely to say their choice to go into medicine was a calling.Those practicing diagnostic medicine and musculoskeletal medicine were the least likely at 45% and 43%, respectively.
4. There were also differences among various age groups. Baby boomers were more likely to report a sense of calling to their work and indicated the highest levels of passion for their careers. Generation Z indicated being motivated to pursue medicine by a desire to serve humanity.
5. APPs were more likely than physicians to say medicine was a calling.
6. Clinicians who see medicine as a calling were more likely to say they plan to stay with their current employers for the next one to three years. Overall, 30% of respondents said they planned to leave their current employers in that time frame.
