JCO Oncology Practice shared an article led by Caroline Schenkel on X about decade-long trend in clinician well-being and burnout among oncology fellows in training.
Authors: Caroline Schenkel, Laura A. Levit, Kelsey Kirkwood, Tait Shanafelt, and Ishwaria M. Subbiah.
This study investigates the well-being and burnout levels of medical oncology fellows in the United States, comparing data from 2023 to that of a decade prior.
The researchers aimed to understand trends in clinician well-being along the career continuum, starting with training. They focused on factors such as fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization. By analyzing survey responses from fellows who took the 2023 ASCO Medical Oncology In-Training Exam (ITE) and comparing them with responses from the 2013 cohort, the study aimed to identify trends in clinician burnout and well-being over time.
The results showed improvements in certain aspects of clinician well-being between 2013 and 2023. In 2023, only 20% of fellows reported burnout, a significant decrease from 34% in 2013. While the well-being of US medical oncology fellows has improved over the past decade, burnout and work-life integration remain ongoing issues.
These findings highlight the importance of optimizing work-life integration and the need for further research into the factors that contribute to a positive work environment. Understanding these factors is crucial not only during training but also as fellows transition into practice, ensuring long-term well-being and job satisfaction in the field of oncology.