Study: Healthcare Practitioners Leaving Medicine Due to COVID December 16, 2021
Written by MSDC staff
In a widely shared article from Science Direct, researchers show that the COVID pandemic is driving healthcare workers away from medicine in large numbers.
The study was supported by the American Medical Association. Between July 1 and December 31, 2020, over 20,000 healthcare workers from 124 institutions answered a survey gauging fear of COVID infection, burnout, and intention to reduce hours or leave their job. Burnout was assessed using the Mini Z single-item burnout measure.
The results showed that 1 in 3 healthcare workers (physicians, APPs, and nurses) intend to reduce their work hours. One in five physicians intend to leave their practice altogether. This is not surprising considering one in four physician respondents reported anxiety or depression, with nearly 50% reporting feeling burned out. The numbers were even higher for nurses, with 40% reporting they were moderately, likely, or definitely leaving their job in the next two years.