More Canadian doctors reported burnout, considered suicide over the past year: CMA survey

Data from a national survey of doctors in Canada has revealed that the well-being of physicians has decreased significantly compared to previous years.

More Canadian doctors and medical professionals reported burnout and considered suicide over the past year as compared to pre-COVID times, a new national survey shows.

The survey conducted by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) from Oct. 13 to Dec. 13, 2021, involving 4,121 physicians and medical learners, states that in the past 12 months, over half of the respondents reported experiencing symptoms of burnout — 1.7 times higher compared to four years ago.

Other psychological factors, apart from burnout, where there have been “alarming increases” include rates of positive screening for depression and recent suicidal ‘ideation’, according to the report published Thursday.

The survey shows that half of the 4,121 respondents screened positive for depression, an increase of 1.4 times or 13 percentage points compared with 2017. And recent suicidal ideation, in the past 12 months, was reported by 14 per cent of respondents, an increase of 1.5 times or five percentage points since 2017.

“Heavy workloads, demanding standards of training and practice, and complex practice environments are just some of the factors that can put any physician at higher risk of personal and professional dissatisfaction, burnout and depression,” the CMA said in its survey report.

The key findings from the study reveal that many subgroups in the medical field are experiencing significantly higher burnout, including medical residents, those under 35 years of age, those identifying as women, those practicing six to 10 years, caregivers of a child and/or parent or family member in the home, those living with disabilities, and those working in small town/rural or isolated/remote areas.

According to the report, women are 59 per cent more likely to experience burnout compared to 43 per cent of men. The increase in burnout since 2017 is much higher among women, with 26 percentage points higher from 2017 versus 14 percentage points among men.

Respondents under the age of 54 (61 per cent) are also significantly more likely to be experiencing burnout than those 55 and older (38 per cent), the report added.