title: Medicine: in need of culture change.
abstract: Compared with other health professionals and the general population, doctors and medical students reported higher rates of psychological distress, burnout, diagnosed mental illness, suicidal ideation and attempted suicide. Where possible, the problematic and unnecessarily stressful aspects of working as a doctor must be improved. Collectively, we must change the often toxic culture of medicine into a culture that promotes a nurturing and supportive approach to teaching and supervision. The goal should be to develop medical practices that facilitate well-being and quality of life, where sustainable medical careers can develop and better serve the community.
authors.affiliation: Accredited Trainee Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM) and Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Sydney.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Health Behaviour Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Outram
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
keywords: burnout; harassment; mental illness; quality of life; sustainable medical practice; toxic medical culture