Abstract
PurposeDoctors who work at cancer hospitals are at high risk of developing emotional distress. This study evaluated the prevalence of burnout, anxiety, and depression in a sample of oncologists of various specialties and sought to identify how much of this distress is explained by specific pre-established characteristics.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used online surveys. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and anxiety and depression were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The variables associated with p-values < 0.10 in the univariate analyses were included in blocks of hierarchical binary logistic regression models to identify the predictors of burnout, depression, and anxiety.ResultsOf the 227 physicians (response rate = 70.5%), 132 (58.1%) were identified as having burnout (high emotional exhaustion [EE] and depersonalization [DP]); furthermore, 28 (12.3%) had depression (HADS-D ≥ 11), and 44 (19.4%) had anxiety (HADS-A ≥ 11). The block of perceptions related to the workplace explained 22.4%, 7.7%, and 10.6% of the variances of burnout, depression, and anxiety, respectively. On the other hand, the outside-of-work characteristics block explained only 3.1%, 13.4%, and 3.4% of the variances of burnout, depression, and anxiety, respectively.ConclusionsWork-related stressors are associated with burnout, but few are associated with anxiety and depression. Outside-of-work characteristics explained little of the distress reported by physicians. Strategies focused on perceptions of professional recognition and lower workloads that stimulate positive relationships between doctors and other health professionals are desirable in oncological context.
Highlights
The high mortality and distress related to cancer, coupled with the increasing number of patients with cancer [1,2,3], places physicians who care for these patients at high risk for distress, i.e., anxiety, depression, and burnout [4].Burnout is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion (EE), primarily catalyzed by professional demands
This study sought to evaluate the prevalence of burnout, anxiety, and depression in a sample of physicians dedicated to oncology of various specialties and to identify how much of this distress could be explained by personal characteristics, those related to the workplace, stressors related to work perceived by physicians, and extra-professional characteristics
This study evaluated the prevalence of the distress conditions burnout, depression, and anxiety using evaluation instruments and cutoff points that have been widely used in previous studies
Summary
Burnout is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion (EE), primarily catalyzed by professional demands. A high burden exists among oncologists regarding the frustration of treating patients with an incurable disease who are often distressed, in many cases angered by the situation, and experience physical-psychological-social-existential suffering. Oncologists often stand in the midst of this emotional conflict, trying to mediate between the cancer and the suffering patient. This study sought to evaluate the prevalence of burnout, anxiety, and depression in a sample of physicians dedicated to oncology of various specialties and to identify how much of this distress could be explained by personal characteristics, those related to the workplace, stressors related to work perceived by physicians, and extra-professional characteristics
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