MDVIP/Ipsos Primary Care Physicians Survey 2024

Washington, D.C., January 25, 2025 – The latest survey from MDVIP/Ipsos interviewed primary care physicians (PCPs) to understand some of the stressors they face in the workplace. The survey shows that the PCPs surveyed want to spend more time with their patients and give them better care, but time constraints limit many. Many say work stress is negatively impacting their life, and almost half have contemplated quitting medicine altogether because of the stress they face. A strong majority are concerned about declining reimbursements and government regulations. Fewer are concerned about artificial intelligence (AI) as it relates to practicing medicine, and many would trust AI to do some basic administrative tasks, though fewer trust AI’s ability to work more independently to diagnose or prescribe medication.

Detailed Findings:

1. The survey examined how PCPs relate to their patients and their profession, and finds that many want more time to spend with their patients and on their own professional development.

• Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed say they often find themselves writing prescriptions or referring patients to a specialist due to time constraints, this is especially true of PCPs who report they are employed by a hospital or health system (65%). Nine in ten PCPs surveyed agree that they wish they could spend more time with patients and truly get to know them as people, with 44% saying they strongly agree. Eighty-nine percent of PCPs surveyed say they wish they could do more to help their patients stay well or prevent health problems. Nine in ten PCPs surveyed say they wish they had more time to keep up with all the medical studies and advances that are being released.
•  The survey asked PCPs what they would spend their time on if their professional life allowed them to have more time. Seventy-four percent say they would spend more time providing one-on-one coaching to patients, 76% would get to know their patients better, 78% agree they would get to the root cause of patient issues, and 77% would focus on patient health span and longevity. Six in ten PCPs say that they sometimes feel their work as a physician is more transactional than relational (62%), and this is especially true of PCPs surveyed who are employed by a medical group (74%) or employed by a hospital or health system (64%). PCPs who work in a private practice are less likely to say this (53%). On the other hand, 88% of the PCPs surveyed say the ability to have a positive impact in their patients’ lives has met or exceeded their expectations in becoming a PCP.

2. The survey also finds the demands of being a primary care physician often prevent PCPs from properly taking care of themselves. The PCPs surveyed say the demands of their jobs prevent them from getting as much exercise as they should (73%), getting as much sleep as they should (72%), enjoying relationships with family and friends (70%), participating in leisure activities they enjoy (75%), taking vacation time (72%), volunteering and doing community service (66%), making optimal food choices (61%), and enjoying a fulfilling sex life (54%). Half of PCPS surveyed say they do not have time to prioritize self-care (50%), and 81% say they wish they had time to do more for their own health.

3. The survey shows that PCPs are experiencing high levels of work stress whether they are in a private practice, work for a hospital or health system, or are employed by a medical group. Seven in ten PCPs surveyed say that work stress is negatively impacting their life and 44% say they have seriously contemplated quitting medicine due to work stress. When asked about factors contributing to increasing work stress, the reason most commonly cited by PCPs is dealing with too much paperwork and bureaucracy (78%). About half of PCPs also say lack of adequate time with patients (46%) and working long hours (45%) contribute to their level of stress. PCPs employed by a hospital or health system are more likely to say that lack of adequate time with patients contributes to workplace stress (61%). One in five PCPs surveyed say interactions with office staff hospital administration or colleagues are the main contributor to their workplace stress (18%), followed closely by running the business part of the practice. Sixty percent of those who are owners, partners, or associates say they have the business acumen needed to run a successful practice.

• Forty-five percent of the PCPs surveyed say they often think about retiring because they are so burnt out from work.   When asked to think about work-life balance goals and their own financial goals, 72% of the PCPS surveyed say it is more important to work with less stress even if it means making less money compared to 28% who say they prefer to make as much money as possible right now even if it means working under a lot of stress. At the same time, about one-third of PCPs surveyed say that their expectations have not been met regarding the financial freedom to have a satisfying life outside of work. Many also say that their expectations of having less stress than other types of physicians (50%) and having a better quality of life than other types of physicians (42%) have not been met.  
• When asked about concerns related to their practice of medicine, 90% of the PCPs surveyed say they are concerned about declining reimbursements, with 60% reporting they are very concerned. Eighty-eight percent report being concerned about finding and retaining qualified staff, with 53% reporting being very concerned. Eighty-five percent of PCPs surveyed say they are concerned about government regulation and health policies with 43% being very concerned.

4. About half of the PCPS surveyed report being concerned about artificial intelligence as it relates to their practice of medicine (56%). The PCPs surveyed say they have at least some trust in artificial intelligence (AI) to help with scribing and dictation (79%), requesting prior authorizations or appeals with insurance companies (75%), scheduling or managing their calendars (74%), and electronic patient communications (67%). A majority say they have at least some trust in AI to help make a medical diagnosis (58%) or to help prescribe medications or treatments (56%).

About the Study

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between October 9-25, 2024, on behalf of MDVIP. For this survey, a sample of roughly 401 primary care physicians were interviewed online in English in the United States. This survey also has a sample of 172 primary care physicians who work as an owner, partner or associate in a private practice setting, and 229 primary care physicians who do not work in a private practice setting. 

Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. 

In our reporting of the findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table column may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. In questions that permit multiple responses, columns may total substantially more than 100%, depending on the number of different responses offered by each respondent.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson 
Senior Vice President, U.S. 
Public Affairs 
[email protected]

Annaleise Azevedo Lohr 
Director, U.S. 
Public Affairs
[email protected]

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