News: 84% of U.S. primary care physicians report ‘extreme’ stress, report says

Primary care physicians (PCP) in the United States are far more likely to experience burnout than physicians located in other countries, a new survey suggests.

The survey, conducted by The Commonwealth Fund, polled 10,895 PCPs between March 12 to September 22, 2025 from the following countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

According to the report:

• 44%of U.S. PCPs said that their burnout primarily due to administrative burden
• 85% percent of U.S. PCPs said they were ‘“somewhat’ or ‘very’ dissatisfied with the time they spend on administrative work”
• 65% said “the amount of time spent on administrative issues related to insurance or claiming payments is a major problem”
• 38%said “they are ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ dissatisfied with their income from medical practice”
• 68% said that “they are ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ dissatisfied with their daily workload”
• 84%said “their job is ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ stressful”

In the conclusion of their report, the authors offered a series of recommendations intended to reduce burnout among U.S. PCPs, including  the creation of a centralized platform for billing and further strategies for reducing administrative burden.

Editor’s note: To read The Commonwealth Fund’s survey report, click here.