Physician burnout: How to recognise and respond to it
DR DO-IT-WELL was a physician who worked in his private practice of 15 years. He was very good at what he did and communicated well with his patients. He worked 16-hour days, and often on weekends. He was the type of guy whose mantra was, ‘Never show weakness’. He could not stand the thought of making a mistake, because patients’ lives were at stake.
He always felt like every problem rested on his capable shoulders and he had to solve them. His children hardly ever saw him, and they resented that. His wife has not felt like she was a priority in his life for a long time now. Lately, he has been feeling exhausted and found himself being more cynical. He has also been thinking more negatively about life and using a glass of wine at nights to fall asleep. Dr Do-it-well was experiencing burnout.
Burnout may be defined as a chronic state of exhaustion; both physical and emotional energies are low. It also has a component of depersonalisation, wherein the physician becomes more cynical with life, less empathetic with patients, and is less emotionally available. Burnout usually promotes feelings of self-doubt and has been associated with depression, substance abuse and divorce.
WHAT CAN PATIENTS DO TO HELP?
1. Ask your doctor how they are doing. They see sick, hurting, anxious and dying people and that can leave them drained.
2. Respect their boundaries. They have a life outside of medicine.
WHAT CAN DOCTORS DO TO MANAGE BURNOUT?
1. Establish boundaries. Try not to take work home with you. If you are not on call, leave the ‘office’ physically, electronically, and emotionally.
2. You are not immortal. You need rest. Rest is not a weakness. Schedule it in.
3. Take time to self-reflect, organise, and prioritise.
4. Create a calendar, write it down. Include family activities. Date night is important, defend it.
5. Hang out with non-medical people. Find something that replenishes you emotionally; for example, a hobby.
6. Create a safe environment. Ask your colleagues how they are doing. Build community.
7. Be honest with how you are feeling. Emotional IQ is important.