Perfectionism is common in medicine, where high standards, conscientiousness and a strong commitment to patients are valued. But when striving for excellence becomes an unrelenting need to get everything right, it can affect wellbeing, clinical practice and the ability to switch off.
Dr Louise Kuegler is joined by Dr Sandra Spilg, Specialist GP, coach, mentor and professional supervisor, to explore why perfectionism is so common in medicine, how to recognise when it becomes unhelpful, and the impact it can have on clinicians and patients.
Using the case of Sarah, a highly regarded GP who struggles with checking, uncertainty and feeling that she is never quite good enough, they explore perfectionism, burnout, anxiety, imposter syndrome and the challenge of accepting uncertainty in clinical practice.
They also discuss practical strategies for maintaining high professional standards without sacrificing wellbeing, and the role of colleagues, supervision and workplace culture in supporting change.
Practical Clinical Pearls:
Perfectionism is not the same as excellence. Excellence aims for high-quality care while recognising that uncertainty and human fallibility are part of medicine.
Self-critical perfectionism is associated with burnout, anxiety and emotional exhaustion.
Excessive checking, over-documentation and difficulty tolerating uncertainty may reduce efficiency without improving patient safety.
High-quality care requires good judgement, not flawless performance.
Self-compassion is not about lowering standards. It is a skill that helps clinicians remain effective, resilient and safe throughout their careers.
The goal is not to become a less conscientious doctor. Coaching, supervision and peer support can help clinicians maintain high standards while building a more sustainable career.
Guest Bio:
Dr Sandra Spilg is a Specialist GP, coach, mentor and professional supervisor with over 30 years' experience in general practice in Scotland and Aotearoa, New Zealand.
She co-founded Script for Change, supporting doctors to navigate burnout, perfectionism, career transitions and the challenges of medical practice through coaching, mentoring and professional supervision.
Website: https://www.scriptforchange.co.nz
Resources:
Shirai N, Koven S, Schwartz AW. “Oh I suppose I should”: a poem on the pressures of perfectionism in medicine. J Gen Intern Med. 2024;39:3091-3092. doi:10.1007/s11606-024-08863-y.
Rallis KS, Wang YA, Barton J. Defining success in medicine: why perfectionism is not the answer. Postgrad Med J. 2022;98(Suppl 3):e181-e182.
Martin SR, Fortier MA, Heyming TW, Ahn K, Nichols W, Golden C, et al. Perfectionism as a predictor of physician burnout. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2020;27(4):730-741. doi:10.1007/s10880-019-09675-6.
Listen here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/26VKbfjctxgHuOz6ZnZuhF?si=QGKu46unSBqjXiUKpa91vQ
