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Career Satisfaction, Practice Patterns and Burnout among Surgical Oncologists: Report on the Quality of Life of Members of the Society of Surgical Oncology

¹ Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
² Department of Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
³ Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Statistics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
⁴ Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
⁵ Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
⁶ Department of Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
⁷ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Henry M. Kuerer, MD, PhD, FACS, Professor of Surgery and Training Program Director, Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 444, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030; E-mail: hkuerer{at}mdanderson.org

Background: Studies show that 30–50% of medical oncologists experience burnout, but little is known about burnout among surgical oncologists. We hypothesized that wide variation in burnout and career satisfaction exist among surgical oncologists.

Patients and Methods: In April 2006, members of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) were sent an anonymous, cross-sectional survey evaluating demographic variables, practice characteristics, career satisfaction, burnout, and quality of life (QOL). Burnout and QOL were measured using validated instruments.

Results: Of the 1519 surgical oncologists surveyed, 549 (36%) responded. More than 50% of respondents worked more than 60 hours per week while 24% performed more than 10 surgical cases per week. Among the respondents, 72% were academic surgical oncologists and 26% spent at least 25% of their time to research. Seventy-nine percent stated that they would become a surgical oncologist again given the choice. Overall, 28% of respondents had burnout. Burnout was more common among respondents age 50 years or younger (31% vs 22%; P = .029) and women (37% vs 26%;P = .031). Factors associated with a higher risk of burnout on multivariate analysis were devoting less than 25% of time to research, had lower physical QOL, and were age 50 years or younger. Burnout was associated with lower satisfaction with career choice.

Conclusions: Although surgical oncologists indicated a high level of career satisfaction, nearly a third experienced burnout. Factors associated with burnout in this study may inform efforts by program directors and SSO members to promote personal health and retain the best surgeons in the field of surgical oncology. Additional research is needed to inform evidenced-based interventions at both the individual and organizational level to reduce burnout.

Key Words: Surgical oncology • Cancer surgery • Cross-sectional study • Burnout • Practice patterns • Stress • Positive-psychology • Well-being • Physicians • Surgeon • Quality of life • Depression

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				T. Shanafelt A Career in Surgical Oncology: Finding Meaning, Balance, and Personal Satisfaction Ann. Surg. Oncol., February 1, 2008; 15(2): 400 - 406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]