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6053 Purpose: Stress burnout among oncologists is a continuing concern, particularly as professional, economic, and political challenges have intensified over the past decade. In a 1991 study of ASCO members SurveyI, 56% of respondents reported feeling burnout in their professional lives. SurveyII (2002) addressed whether the prevalence and scope of burnout among oncologists had changed in the intervening decade. Methods: The 1991 survey instrument was used. Additional questions from the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1981) were added to enrich the burnout measure. The web-based survey was sent to 16,635 ASCO members. Results: 1,299 (12.8%) surveys were completed. SurveyII respondents were comparable to ASCO membership in sex and age ratios. 57% SurveyII respondents had >10 years in practice since their training vs 17% in SurveyI. 34% of SurveyII respondents reported burnout in their professional lives (vs 56% in SurveyI). The most often cited reasons for burnout continue to be lack of personal or vacation time (40% SurveyII vs 57% SurveyI) and exposure to fatal illness (31% SurveyII vs 53% SurveyI). Frustration with limited therapeutic success diminished over the decade (22% SurveyII vs 45% SurveyI), and the sense of frustration or failure also dropped (38% Survey II vs 56% SurveyI). Ways to alleviate stress differed slightly, with fewer SurveyII respondents choosing sabbaticals (25% vs 44%) and more personal or vacation time (46% vs 69%). A third in both surveys recommended a smaller patient load to alleviate burnout. Over half said that burnout affected their personal lives and over one-third said it affected patient care. In SurveyII, 40% said they never considered a change in job or career, and 22% considered a change a few times per year. Conclusions: Burnout continues to be reported by over one third of oncologists surveyed. The reduced sense of failure and frustration may account for the reduction in burnout from 12 years ago. More than one-third still report symptoms affecting their personal well-being and patient care. These data suggest that ASCO's programs should address burnout. Author Disclosure Employment or Leadership Consultant or Advisory Stock Ownership Honoraria Research Funding Expert Testimony Other Remuneration Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
Whippen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.