One troubling sign that career burnout is becoming a serious problem was found in verbatim comments supplied by many of the more than 3100 respondents. I frequently feel sad that I became a physician. I want to retire as soon as possible. In 1999, the PRQ attempted to delve into this issue by asking physicians to rate the level of stress associated with several aspects of on-call work. Leaving my family at night and weekends without sufficient remuneration to take other time off is the hardest part of being a mom.
Verbatim comments suggest that on-call duties are difficult and financially frustrating.
However, there has been a large shift in the way physicians would prefer to be paid. I have student loans to pay, a business loan to pay, computer equipment in the office to buy. I feel burnt out, financially unable to take a vacation, and I have considered leaving medicine altogether. A salary with benefits is how we deserve to be paid. Soon it won't be worth working.