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Burnout Among Women Physicians: a Call to Action

  • Public Health Policy (Elizabeth Klodas, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purposes of this discussion are to describe what is known about burnout among women physicians and identify contributing factors, categories of impact, and methods for mitigating the phenomenon. The authors conclude with current gaps in research.

Recent Findings

Although there are a lack of investigations analyzing and reporting physician burnout data by gender, there is evidence to suggest that women physicians experience stress and burnout differently than their men counterparts. Women physicians are more likely to face gender discrimination, gender biases, deferred personal life decisions, and barriers to professional advancement, all of which may contribute to burnout.

Summary

Interventions specific to preventing physician burnout in women should include (1) addressing barriers to career satisfaction, work life integration, and mental health; (2) identification and reduction of gender and maternal bias; (3) mentorship and sponsorship opportunities; (4) family leave, lactation, and child care policies and support. In addition, gaps in research must be addressed in an effort to inform best practices for measuring and addressing burnout among women physicians.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nursing Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Sherry S. Chesak

  2. Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Susanne Cutshall

  3. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Alexandra Anderson

  4. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Bridget Pulos

  5. Division of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Susan Moeschler

  6. Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Anjali Bhagra

Authors
  1. Sherry S. Chesak
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Correspondence to Sherry S. Chesak.

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Sherry S. Chesak, Susanne Cutshall, Alexandra Anderson, Bridget Pulos, Susan Moeschler, and Anjali Bhagra declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Chesak, S.S., Cutshall, S., Anderson, A. et al. Burnout Among Women Physicians: a Call to Action. Curr Cardiol Rep 22, 45 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-020-01300-6

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