Facing Diminished Trust, Doctors Question Their Calling
A new survey of physicians by The Doctors Company confirms a familiar but deepening concern: Few physicians would recommend a career in medicine. The survey’s results point to mounting challenges that are eroding professional satisfaction and prompting many clinicians to reevaluate their futures.
Conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, the survey offers timely insights into physicians’ current mindset. Most notably, medicine earned a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of -52, revealing that only 12 percent of respondents are likely to recommend their career to others. Further, 77 percent of respondents reported decreased career enjoyment over the past five years.
NPS measures loyalty and satisfaction by asking people how likely they are to recommend something. Businesses assess their NPS to identify areas for improvement and chart plans for growth, but NPS can also measure other experiences, such as the career satisfaction of members of a profession.
Key Survey Findings
When asked to name the most challenging parts of practicing medicine, respondents identified:
Misinformation on social media
Declining patient trust in physicians and the healthcare system
Among all physicians surveyed, more than half cited costs as one of the most challenging parts of practicing medicine:
Concerned about high medical costs
Specifically noted high drug costs as a major challenge
Listening to Physician Voices
Patients are openly distrustful, aggressive, and disrespectful.”
–Internal Medicine Physician, MI
Trust is low, people believe kids on TikTok and Facebook over physicians, people believe crazy conspiracy theories with no backing. It’s actually depressing.”
–Pediatrician, AZ
Healthcare is broken because of bloated administration and treating this like a supply/demand business.”
–Internal Medicine Physician, MI
We are close to a major catastrophic nationwide healthcare crisis.”
–Neurologist, GA
It’s sad to see the medical profession turn into a business.”
–Internal Medicine Physician, FL
About the Survey
After healthcare’s tumultuous 2024, how are physicians feeling about the practice of medicine? That’s the research question we set out to answer. Between December 2024 and January 2025, we gathered 368 physicians’ answers to 11 questions, keeping our survey’s time window brief to capture an accurate snapshot of our respondents’ sentiments toward their calling in that moment.
These findings reflect clinicians’ efforts to navigate their increasingly complex environment—one in which professional autonomy and fulfillment are being compromised. Our concern for clinicians’ work environment and our deep alignment with the medical profession drive our Future of Healthcare Survey series. At The Doctors Company, we recognize that today’s healthcare professionals are practicing under extraordinary pressure. For nearly 50 years, we have remained steadfast in our belief that medicine is a noble calling, and we have stood as a strong ally to the medical profession—advancing, protecting, and rewarding the practice of good medicine.
As healthcare organizations chart a course through turbulent times, The Doctors Company is committed to illuminating emerging risks and identifying actionable solutions—so physicians can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional care.
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