Why well-being is low for current and future physicians: 8 takeaways

For the third year in a row, 6 in 10 physicians included in the Physicians Foundation's "Survey of America's Current and Future Physicians" reported experiencing burnout.

Here are seven other findings on current and future physician well-being from the 2023 survey:

1. Six in 10 residents reported often feeling burnout.
2. Seven in 10 medical students reported often feeling burnout.
3. Fifty-three percent of physicians reported inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness or anxiety.
4. Sixty-eight percent of residents reported inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness or anxiety.
5. Fifty-five percent of medical students said they have felt hopeless or like they have no purpose, compared to 34 percent of physicians and 43 percent of residents.
6. Seventy-eight percent of physicians said there is stigma surrounding mental health and seeking mental health care among physicians. 
7. Four in 10 physicians said they were either afraid or knew another physician fearful of seeking mental health care due to questions included in medical licensure, credentialing or insurance applications.