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Burnout High Among Podiatrists, but Not Inevitable

from Podiatry Online:

Quote:

Burnout among podiatrists doesn't have to be inevitable. Many podiatrists view it as a job hazard, something that they believe goes along with the stress of dealing with people and their problems day in and day out, but that's not so. Research about burnout and occupational stress relating to podiatry is lacking, although a study published earlier this year does shed some light on these important issues. The study compared levels of burnout between new podiatrists in the United Kingdom and Australia. Geographical differences may limit the study's applications, but podiatrists everywhere can relate to the overall findings. The study by the Clinical Research Centre, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, England, found that podiatrists in both Australian and the United Kingdom had significantly higher levels of burnout than published normative data.

Full story

erm .... what am I missing here?

The reasons for burn out are:

lack of status and recognition;
a perception of over-demanding patients;
keeping up to date with changes in clinical practice;
time pressures; and
providing a service perceived as value for money.

the solution appears to be:

1. sort out your life and / or
2. excercise
3. get out of podiatry

use 'em and loose 'em - fab!

A couple of years ago when I was in USA I recall a front page headline in USA Today about the very high suicide rate in Dentists --- it was put down to the isolation that many feel in solo or small practices. I guess there is no reason to assume that Podiatry may be any different

__________________
Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________
God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things - right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
The views expressed above are those of the author and not that of La Trobe University
This is where I am, where are you?

Re Dentists and Suicide

It has always struck me that very rarely do you say to your Dentist at the end of a procedure "That was great, we must do it again sometime." (Well, perhaps because your talking muscles are paralysed from the LA, and all you can do is dribble and mumble...but you get the gist). I have found, however, that patients are generally consistently pleased with Podiatry procedures, and usually say upon donning their footwear - "Oh, that feels much better, thankyou..." So Dentists top themselves because no-one really wants to see them, and no-one gives them cheerful positive feedback about what they have done for them. Podiatrists, however, spread joy and hapiness where e'er we go! Ergo, we are much better insurance risks.

Now, about burnout....Yep, the isolation is a killer. Having twenty identical conversations a day is mind numbing, and we are SO at the bottom of the medical food chain we begin to see ourselves as single celled organisms. So what we need is better mentoring, more colleagial support, lots of seminars and mini-conferences where the papers are practice-oriented, and that bottle of whisky in Matthew Oates's bottom drawer. And most of all a sense of humour, because if we start taking ourselves too seriously it will all become too tragic!

Cheers,

Felicity

I suppose podiatrists may be able to communicate with their patients a little more easily than dentists ?
Cheers,
David

ahhhh - whiskey - THAT's the answer, sure 'nuff ! Single Malts are especially therapeutic

There is no doubt about the therapeutic value of a good single malt (but not too peaty please). But, on a drearily serious note, I have had a thought (yes, just the one, but it is all new to me).

I am just collating the feedback forms from Pod students who have undertaken placement in private practices ad hospitals. You should read the words they use - "fantastic, invaluable, excellent, inspiring...", and the level of appreciation of their supervisors is equally stunning - "enthusiastic, encouraging, caring, welcoming, knowledgable, professional, extraordinary.." and so on. This is were we can find the enthusiasm we need to keep going - in the Podiatrists of the future.

So - find out if your local Uni/College needs placement opportunities for their students. You will have the chance to be with someone who values you and your knowledge, and there is nothing like teaching to help you learn. No doubt I am preaching to the converted on this forum, but perhaps if we all suggested it to a colleague, then the word would spread. Perhaps at the next conference someone might be willing to give a brief paper on the benefits of hosting a student on placement - it would be of benefit to all.

Now, for that whisky. (Damn, I forgot, I don't drink anymore - I drank all my share at once in younger days).

cheers,

Felicity