Sociotechnical Factors Contributing to Burnout among Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists: Survey and Focus Group Results from a Systems-Analysis Approach

Abstract

While burnout and contributing factors have been studied among physicians and surgeons, there is limited understanding of the factors contributing to radiation oncology medical physicists' (MPs) burnout. Therefore, this study aims to i) explore factors associated with burnout among MPs using a systems-analysis approach, and ii) identify and prioritize key improvement efforts. We administered a survey to MPs at a US academic medical center between May 19-June 2, 2022. The survey included a 2-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, a 2- item abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) measuring emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP), and 21 general workplace stressors based on the National Academy of Medicine's systems approach to clinicians' burnout. Participants rated workplace stressor severity on a 5-item Likert scale and priorities for improvement on a 4-item Likert scale. Burnout was categorized using a 2-Question Summative Score totaling >3 for EE and DP. Focus groups were held with ∼3 participants per group via a video conferencing platform on June 8-9, 2022. Survey results from top-rated workplace stressors and priorities were summarized and presented to focus groups. Participants were asked open-ended questions to promote discussion and elicit more contextual information about workplace stressors and to rank their highest priority stressors at the end of the focus group. Of the 12 MPs the survey was sent to, 8 responses (67%) were received. Table 1 summarizes the results. The mean resilience score was 6.88, with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.63. 87.5% (n = 7) of MPs identified themselves as burned out. The key workplace stressors contributing most to MPs' burnout were inadequate staffing (mean [SD] 3.1 [1.2]), work-life integration (3.1 [1.2]), excessive workload (2.8 [1.1]), and time pressure (2.6 [1.2]). Specifically, MPs suggested following improvements: i) hire additional physicists to cover clinic responsibilities, ii) limit or compensate for work done post-work hours, iii) improve scheduling workflow, and iv) retain hybrid work model. Survey data demonstrated moderate resilience but high levels of burnout among MPs. Results indicate inadequate staffing as the most severe workplace stressor and highest priority for improvement efforts and remained the top priority even after focus groups. These results warrant further studies with larger sample sizes, assessing factors contributing to burnout among MPs and systems-focused interventions.