2381 - Assessment of Burnout Amongst Oncologists Located In a Canadian Province: A Cross-Sectional Survey Analysis
Presenter(s)
S. Sidhoo1,2, M. T. Gorman1,2, A. Ademola3, and B. J. Debenham4; 1Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 2University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 3Senior Biostatistician, Cancer Research and Analytics, Cancer Care Alberta, Calgary, AB, Canada, 4Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Purpose/Objective(s): Burnout is a stress-induced, occupational-related syndrome recognized by the World Health Organization, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and loss of personal accomplishment. Despite longstanding awareness, burnout remains a prevalent and often neglected issue among healthcare professionals, where clinicians face high workloads, emotional strain, and complex patient care demands. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of burnout among oncologists in Alberta, Canada, and to identify factors associated with increased burnout risk.
Materials/Methods: A cross-sectional, survey-based study of physicians across multiple oncology-related specialties. Anonymized questionnaires collected demographic and occupational data, along with the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Outcomes were categorized into low, intermediate or high levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment using standardized scoring criteria. Descriptive, chi-square or Fisher exact tests, and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify covariates associated with burnout, with statistical significance set at P<0.05.
Results: Ninety-one participants completed the survey, with 60 (65.93%) over 40 years, 43 (47.25%) female, 52 (57.14%) white, 78 (85.71%) in a relationship, 48 (52.75%) working in academic settings, and 44 (48.35%) in radiation oncology. Fifty (54.95%) participants reported feeling personally burnt out, and 82 (90.11%) felt their colleagues experienced burnout. Thirty-nine (42.86%) participants demonstrated frequent emotional engagement with patients despite relatively low daily energy levels. Median scores indicated substantial burnout, with 67 (73.6%) experiencing moderate to high emotional exhaustion and 57 (62.6%) reporting moderate to high depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Seeing more than 30 patients per week was significantly associated with increased emotional exhaustion and decreased personal accomplishment. Male gender and not living alone were associated with higher personal accomplishment, and no covariates were associated with depersonalization.
Conclusion: This study identified a high rate of burnout amongst oncologists in Alberta. Higher patient volumes, non-male gender, and living alone were associated with worse outcomes. These findings indicate the imminent need for meaningful and diverse workplace support systems.