Michael J Raphael1, Adam Fundytus2, Wilma M Hopman3, Verna Vanderpuye4, Bostjan Seruga5, Gilberto Lopes6, Nazik Hammad7, Manju Sengar8, Michael D Brundage9, Richard Sullivan10, Christopher M Booth11. 1. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, Canada; Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. 2. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, Canada. 3. Kingston General Hospital Research Institute, Kingston, Canada; Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. 4. Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. 5. Division of Medical Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 6. University of Miami and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, United States. 7. Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. 8. Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. 9. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, Canada; Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada; Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. 10. Institute of Cancer Policy, King's College London, & King's Health Partners Comprehensive Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom. 11. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, Canada; Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada; Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada. Electronic address: booth@queensu.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While physician burnout is increasingly recognized, little is known about medical oncologist job satisfaction, and the factors associated with low satisfaction. Here, we report the results of an international survey of medical oncologists. METHODS: An online survey was distributed using a modified snowball methodology via national oncology societies to chemotherapy-prescribing physicians in 65 countries. Oncologist job satisfaction was assessed by asking, "On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your satisfaction as an oncologist? 1 = unsatisfying, 10 = satisfying." Low, moderate and high job satisfaction was defined as scores of 1-6, 7-8, and 9-10, respectively. RESULTS: 1,115 physicians from 42 countries completed the survey. Overall job satisfaction rates were 20% (222/1,115), 51% (573/1,115), and 29% (320/1,115) for low-, moderate-, and high-satisfaction, respectively. Respondents with low job satisfaction were younger (P = 0.001) and had fewer years in clinical practice (P = 0.013) compared to those with high satisfaction. Increasing hours worked by per week (p = 0.042), decreasing annual weeks of paid vacation (P = 0.007), being on-call every night (P = 0.016), higher clinic volumes (P = 0.004) and lack of access to on-site radiotherapy (P = 0.049), palliative care (P = 0.005), and chemotherapy pharmacists (P = 0.033) were associated with low-job satisfaction. Respondents with low-job satisfaction were less likely to discuss prognosis with their patients compared to those with moderate or high job satisfaction (median 45% of patients v 65% v 75%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Globally, 1 in 5 medical oncologists report low job satisfaction. The main correlates of job satisfaction are related to system-level pressures resulting in less time for quality patient care and personal resilience. Improving oncologist job satisfaction will require new approaches to models of care delivery.
BACKGROUND: While physician burnout is increasingly recognized, little is known about medical oncologist job satisfaction, and the factors associated with low satisfaction. Here, we report the results of an international survey of medical oncologists. METHODS: An online survey was distributed using a modified snowball methodology via national oncology societies to chemotherapy-prescribing physicians in 65 countries. Oncologist job satisfaction was assessed by asking, "On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your satisfaction as an oncologist? 1 = unsatisfying, 10 = satisfying." Low, moderate and high job satisfaction was defined as scores of 1-6, 7-8, and 9-10, respectively. RESULTS: 1,115 physicians from 42 countries completed the survey. Overall job satisfaction rates were 20% (222/1,115), 51% (573/1,115), and 29% (320/1,115) for low-, moderate-, and high-satisfaction, respectively. Respondents with low job satisfaction were younger (P = 0.001) and had fewer years in clinical practice (P = 0.013) compared to those with high satisfaction. Increasing hours worked by per week (p = 0.042), decreasing annual weeks of paid vacation (P = 0.007), being on-call every night (P = 0.016), higher clinic volumes (P = 0.004) and lack of access to on-site radiotherapy (P = 0.049), palliative care (P = 0.005), and chemotherapy pharmacists (P = 0.033) were associated with low-job satisfaction. Respondents with low-job satisfaction were less likely to discuss prognosis with their patients compared to those with moderate or high job satisfaction (median 45% of patients v 65% v 75%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Globally, 1 in 5 medical oncologists report low job satisfaction. The main correlates of job satisfaction are related to system-level pressures resulting in less time for quality patient care and personal resilience. Improving oncologist job satisfaction will require new approaches to models of care delivery.
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