Characteristics associated with first job satisfaction and burnout in early-career gynecologic oncologists (031)

Abstract

Objectives: To identify job characteristics associated with increased job satisfaction and decreased burnout in early-career gynecologic oncologists. Methods: U.S. gynecologic oncologists (GO) who were early-career (< 10 years since fellowship) SGO members were electronically contacted to participate in a one-time anonymous online survey about early-career job characteristics and satisfaction, practice patterns, and responses to the Maslach burnout inventory. First job characteristics were summarized, and burnout scores were correlated with respondent and job characteristics. Results: A total of 96 early-career (96/514, 18.6%) GO participated in the study. Respondents were majority female (79.2%), White (77.1%), board-certified (66.7%), in practice for <5 years (56.3%), and at academic centers (56.3%) and urban locations (57.3%). Respondents reported the following as most important (>80%) considerations for job satisfaction: availability of senior partners for back-up, practice/department culture, geographic location, work-life balance, and type of facility (Table 1). Seventy (72.9%) respondents reported they were somewhat or very happy with their job. Although only 25% of respondents reported a current mentorship/career development plan, 79.2% of respondents expressed this would be helpful in the first job. Burnout was present in one of three areas (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, or professional accomplishment) in 62.5% of all respondents. Working solely at a non-academic practice was associated with burnout (p<0.01). However, gender, race, board-certification status, age, financial benefits, lifestyle/work schedule, and practice location were not associated with burnout and job satisfaction. More than 50% of respondents reported they would choose to become a physician again and specialize in gynecologic oncology, but only 38.6% of respondents would recommend a career in medicine to family/friends. Twenty-six (27.0%) respondents left their first job after a mean of 3.9 ± 2.9 years with the most common reasons attributable to leaving: better opportunity (53.8%), poor department culture and/or bullying (42.3%), salary (38.5%), lack of mentorship (38.5%), location (34.6%), poor work-life balance (30.8%), and <5% each of call schedule, lack of research opportunities, sexual harassment, and lack of administrative/clinical support. Compared to those who did not leave their first job, respondents who left their first job rated the following characteristics as significant in choosing a first job: case mix as more important, type of practice as less important, and work-life balance as less important (p<0.05). Objectives: To identify job characteristics associated with increased job satisfaction and decreased burnout in early-career gynecologic oncologists. Methods: U.S. gynecologic oncologists (GO) who were early-career (< 10 years since fellowship) SGO members were electronically contacted to participate in a one-time anonymous online survey about early-career job characteristics and satisfaction, practice patterns, and responses to the Maslach burnout inventory. First job characteristics were summarized, and burnout scores were correlated with respondent and job characteristics. Results: A total of 96 early-career (96/514, 18.6%) GO participated in the study. Respondents were majority female (79.2%), White (77.1%), board-certified (66.7%), in practice for <5 years (56.3%), and at academic centers (56.3%) and urban locations (57.3%). Respondents reported the following as most important (>80%) considerations for job satisfaction: availability of senior partners for back-up, practice/department culture, geographic location, work-life balance, and type of facility (Table 1). Seventy (72.9%) respondents reported they were somewhat or very happy with their job. Although only 25% of respondents reported a current mentorship/career development plan, 79.2% of respondents expressed this would be helpful in the first job. Burnout was present in one of three areas (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, or professional accomplishment) in 62.5% of all respondents. Working solely at a non-academic practice was associated with burnout (p<0.01). However, gender, race, board-certification status, age, financial benefits, lifestyle/work schedule, and practice location were not associated with burnout and job satisfaction. More than 50% of respondents reported they would choose to become a physician again and specialize in gynecologic oncology, but only 38.6% of respondents would recommend a career in medicine to family/friends. Twenty-six (27.0%) respondents left their first job after a mean of 3.9 ± 2.9 years with the most common reasons attributable to leaving: better opportunity (53.8%), poor department culture and/or bullying (42.3%), salary (38.5%), lack of mentorship (38.5%), location (34.6%), poor work-life balance (30.8%), and <5% each of call schedule, lack of research opportunities, sexual harassment, and lack of administrative/clinical support. Compared to those who did not leave their first job, respondents who left their first job rated the following characteristics as significant in choosing a first job: case mix as more important, type of practice as less important, and work-life balance as less important (p<0.05).