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Overcoming Burnout and Promoting Wellness in Radiation Oncology: A Report From the ACR Commission on Radiation Oncology. J Am Coll Radiol 2023 May;20(5):487-493

Date

03/17/2023

Pubmed ID

36925094

Pubmed Central ID

PMC10149602

DOI

10.1016/j.jacr.2023.03.003

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85151668379 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   5 Citations

Abstract

Burnout, defined by the presence of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and decreased sense of personal accomplishment, impacts a significant portion of radiation oncologists. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is notably worse for women, and has been identified as an international concern. Key contributors to burnout within radiation oncology include inadequate clinical and administrative support, imbalanced personal and professional lives including time with family and for self-care, decreased job satisfaction secondary to increased electronic medical record and decreased patient time, unsupportive organizational culture, lack of transparency from leadership and inclusion in administrative decisions, emotionally intensive patient interactions, challenges within the radiation oncology workforce, financial security related to productivity-based compensation and increasing medical training-related debt, limited education on wellness, and fear of seeking mental health services due to stigma and potential negative impacts on the trajectory of one's career. Limited data exist to quantify the impacts of these factors on the overall levels of burnout within radiation oncology specifically, and additional efforts are needed to understand and address root causes of burnout within the field. Strategies should focus on improving the systems in which physicians work and providing the necessary skills and resources to thrive in high-stress, high-stakes work environments.

Author List

Beltràn Ponce S, Small CJ, Amini A, Johnstone C, Parikh JR, Rosenthal SA, Salerno KE, Schechter NR, Small W Jr

Author

Candice A. Johnstone MD, MPH Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Burnout, Professional
Female
Humans
Job Satisfaction
Pandemics
Radiation Oncology
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