Study finds physicians leaving practice earlier

Physicians are leaving clinical practice earlier and for different reasons than in past cohorts, according to a national survey published in The Permanente Journal.

AMA researchers analyzed responses from 971 clinically inactive physicians across specialties who completed residency between 2000 and 2022. The study focused on physicians who had stopped practicing, were practicing fewer than 20 hours per week, or never entered clinical practice after training.

Among respondents, 63.9% identified as women and the mean age was 45.8 years. The study also found that 11.0% had never practiced after graduate medical education.

Physicians who left practice cited “hassle factor” and “too stressful” as leading reasons for departure, at 44.7% and 44.5%, respectively.

The mean age of physicians who left clinical practice was 48.1 years. That was 9 years younger than the age reported in a comparable 2008 cohort, according to the study summary.

Earlier survey data from 2008 linked early departure more often to personal health issues, malpractice insurance premiums, hassle, and lack of professional satisfaction. Updated findings point more toward burnout, chronic workplace stress, administrative burden, and unrealistic patient expectations.

Gender differences also appeared in the findings. Women physicians were more likely than men to report leaving because of caring for family members or children.

Sea Chen, MD, PhD, the paper’s corresponding author, said health systems should consider “supporting physicians who are already trained” as they expand medical school and residency capacity.

The authors said understanding early attrition may help guide interventions to sustain the physician workforce.