Workload, well-being and career satisfaction among French internal medicine physicians and residents in 2018

Abstract

ObjectivesThis work aimed to study the prevalence and risk factors associated with well-being and career satisfaction among French internal medicine physicians and residents.MethodsA total of 1689 French internal medicine physicians or trainees were surveyed to evaluate their workload, well-being and career satisfaction during February 2018.ResultsThe response rate was 620/1689 (37%). The mean age of the participants was 37 years (±12); 49% of the participants were female, 27% worked in the Paris area, 74% worked in a university hospital and 49% were residents. Sixty-six per cent of the responders were satisfied with their work, and 66% would choose the internal medicine specialty again. However, 71% of the responders worked more than 50 hours a week, 21% worked more than 60 hours a week and 70% believed that they did not have enough time for personal/family activities. Twenty-five per cent of the responders had at least one sign of burnout (19% of the physicians in practice and 32% of the residents). Compared with the graduate physicians in practice, the residents worked more hours a week, had more activities at night, spent more time on administrative tasks, had a worse global appreciation of their work and felt that their work was less meaningful. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with global satisfaction at work were autonomy and meaningful work.ConclusionsFrench internal medicine physicians have a high rate of career satisfaction. However, residents have a higher workload, less time for personal/family activities and feel that their work is less meaningful.