A third of Italian doctors would retire immediately. And to dream of hanging up the white coat and maybe escaping to an exotic country today are mainly young doctors: “25% of doctors between 25 and 34 years old and 31% of those between 35 and 44 years old”. This is one of the data from the quantitative survey ‘The condition of doctors two years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic’, conducted by the Piepoli Institute on input from Fnomceo, the National Federation of Medical Orders, and presented today at Rome as part of the national conference on the ‘Medical question’. “We love this profession, we only ask to be able to practice it with the enthusiasm of those who begin! – is the comment of the President of Fnomceo, Filippo Anelli – This propensity for early retirement, expressed by many young people, is a shocking fact that makes us reflect and shows how deep is the crisis linked to the loss of confidence in the future, to the lack of hope of a better tomorrow for our profession “. The research was carried out through the administration of 500 interviews, conducted from 21 to 28 March last, on a representative sample of 500 doctors, men and women, stratified by age and geographical location, so segmented: 50 family doctors, 50 continuity doctors, 50 pediatricians, 200 dentists, 50 outpatient specialists, 50 hospitalized, 20 pensioners, 30 other doctors. “The pandemic increase in workloads is significant – over 37% in the area, plus 28% in the hospital – which involved the vast majority of doctors and dentists – underlines the survey – According to the research, in the course of the pandemic the workload has increased for 3 out of 4 doctors, leading almost 1 in 5 hospitals to change wards (a difficult change, in most cases). hospital doctors, 24% of outpatient specialists and 12% of dentists. A burdensome commitment that has had repercussions – 40% of both local doctors and hospitals think so – also on the relationship of trust with citizens. caused, together with organizational difficulties, stress and worry in the vast majority of professionals, 71%. 90% of the doctors in the area, 72% of hospital doctors, 80% of specialists declare themselves ‘stressed’. outpatient lists, 62% of dentists “.” There are numerous reports – explains Anelli – in the literature about doctors’ burnout. ‘Doctors and trainees are running out at an alarming rate’, reads one of the many published works. Indeed, “historically, medicine has been characterized by difficult working conditions as well as inattention to well-being and self-care on the part of the doctor”. According to the Piepoli Institute survey, 24% of continuity care doctors presented health problems, such as sleep disorders, stress, anxiety and fear, similarly to 10% of general practitioners, 4% of hospital doctors and 3% of dentists “.