ASCO Survey of Oncologists Finds High Overall Career Satisfaction, but Nearly Half Report Burnout
A survey of oncologists by Shanafelt et al has found that approximately 45% had at least one symptom of burnout, with risk being greatest among younger oncologists and those spending more hours per week devoted to direct patient care. However, overall career satisfaction remains high, especially for oncologists in academic practice. The study is reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Study Methodology
Between October 2012 and March 2013, ASCO conducted a survey of oncologists drawn from its oncologist registry to evaluate burnout and career satisfaction. Of the nearly 3,000 oncologists contacted, 1,490 returned surveys. The survey sample included equal numbers of men and women and represented all career stages. Median age was 52 years. Among the 1,117 oncologists who completed full-length surveys, 377 were in academic practice and 482 were in private practice, with the remainder in other settings.
Study Findings
On average, oncologists worked 57.6 hours per week, including an average of 34.0 hours per week on direct patient care, 11.5 hours per week on administrative tasks at work, and 8.5 hours per week performing work tasks at home, plus an additional 4.6 hours per week keeping abreast of professional developments and maintenance of certification. On average, the oncologists cared for 52 patients in the outpatient setting each week.
Overall, 484 oncologists (44.7%) reported at least one symptom of burnout (high emotional exhaustion score and/or high depersonalization, as measured by Maslach Burnout Inventory (academic practice, 45.9%; private practice, 50.5%; P = .18). When assessed using the full Maslach Burnout Inventory, 38.3% of oncologists had high emotional exhaustion, 24.9% had high depersonalization, and 13.2% reported a low sense of personal accomplishment. Younger age, being a woman, relationship status, not having children, greater student loan debt, and greater number of hours spent seeing patients each week were all associated with burnout.
Despite these concerns, an overwhelming majority of oncologists were satisfied with their career choice, saying they would choose to become a physician (82.5%) and oncologist (80.5%) again, although both measures of career satisfaction were lower for those in private practice relative to academic practice (all P < .006).
Addressing the Problem of Burnout
Although the prevalence of burnout among oncologists in the United States is similar to or lower than that of physicians in other disciplines, the study authors write that steps need to be taken to reduce the problem. “Given the prevalence of burnout and evidence that it erodes physicians’ personal health and the quality of care they provide, future studies need to focus on how to address this problem. There is currently limited evidence on what interventions reduce the risk of burnout; most available information focuses on individual rather than system approaches.… A better understanding of the factors that sustain career satisfaction and studies testing interventions to reduce oncologist burnout are needed,” wrote the authors.
Tait D. Shanafelt, MD, of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, is corresponding author of the Journal of Clinical Oncology article.
The study authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
