In 2019, approximately 13,000 healthcare workers reported nonfatal occupational intentional injuries. Little is known about physicians’ mistreatment and discrimination experiences by personal characteristics (e.g., gender and race). A new research article says that physicians who experience mistreatment and discriminatory behaviors by patients, families, and visitors have higher odds of burnout.
- In the previous year, 29 % of physicians had experienced racially or ethnically offensive comments by patients, families, or visitors.
- Female physicians (odds ratio 2.33) and Black physicians (odds ratio 1.59) were more likely to report mistreatment or discrimination.
- Offensive Racial comments were hurled toward 26% of white vs.>55% others.
- The researchers scored mistreatment on a scale from 0 to 3 or greater. Higher scores were associated with higher odds of burnout: a score of 3 or greater had an odds ratio of 2.20.
- Most commonly affected were ER, Urologists, Dermatologists, Psychiatrists, and PM&R doctors. VA and Military settings had higher incidences.
- “Efforts to mitigate physician burnout should include attention to patient and visitor conduct,” According to the author.