QLIF-02. NEURO-ONCOLOGY BURNOUT: IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL STRESSORS AND JOB SATISFACTION

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Burnout is prevalent among cancer care providers and has three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. Exposure to professional stress and lack of satisfaction is associated with burnout. Professions within neuro-oncology work with a complex patient population with significant morbidity and mortality. The impact of identified stressors and satisfaction have not been previously explored in neuro-oncology professionals. METHOD(S): The Neuro-Oncology Burnout and Career Satisfaction survey was completed by 326 healthcare professionals (physicians (72%), allied health professionals (16%) and basic scientists (10%)) via a web-based portal. Qualitative analysis was applied to explore identified stressors and satisfaction. RESULT(S): Three predominant themes emerged on stressors: 1) work demands, 2) personal challenges in work/life balance and emotional intelligence, and 3) aspects of caring for brain tumor patients. Several factors including multiple demands, administrative burden, issues with peers/staff/administration and personal uncertainties contributed to the development of work demands (80%) as a common stressful theme. Each profession reported different stressful influencers, i.e. external funding for basic scientists, lack of support staff resonated with allied health and physicians endorsed lack of time to adhere to multiple demands. Job satisfaction included five identified areas in aspects of one's position: research involvement, work atmosphere, personal aspects, patient interactions, and training of residents/medical students/fellows. Identified aspects associated with satisfaction included relationships with patient/families by direct care providers and family/patient gratitude while basic scientists identified research outcomes. CONCLUSION(S): The multiple factors contributing to stressful aspects of one's position form a framework of interconnected patterns that could model risk factors associated with provider burnout. Understanding subjective concerns that exacerbate burnout and satisfaction provides a guide for future implementation of efficient strategies within organizations that can mitigate burnout and detect initial warning signs to target.