Factors Associated with Burnout Among Hematology & Oncology Physicians

• Published in: Blood 2020-11, Vol.136 (Supplement 1), p.41-42
• Main Authors: Masselink, Leah E, Lee, Alfred Ian, Erikson, Clese E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood-2020-139798

Background The American Society of Hematology and researchers at the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity at the George Washington University are conducting a 3-year study of the hematology workforce to understand factors that influence the supply of hematology services in the U.S. The Survey of Practicing Hematologists and Oncologists focuses on practicing hematology/oncology physicians' practice activities and experiences, compensation, job satisfaction and burnout. While the prevalence and predictors of burnout in the oncology workforce have been studied in detail previously, less is known about factors associated with burnout in the hematology or combined hematology/oncology workforce–or whether these differ across academic and community practice settings. This study seeks to examine factors associated with severe burnout for hematology/oncology physicians in academic and community practice settings using data from a large-scale, comprehensive survey of hematology/oncology physicians. Methods We collected survey data via mail and online survey (using Qualtrics, an online survey tool) in April through June 2019. The survey included questions about hematology/oncology physicians' work hours, practice activities, compensation, job satisfaction and burnout. This analysis uses data from a single validated question examining respondents’ level of burnout: “Overall, based on your definition of burnout, how would you rate your level of burnout?” The question asks respondents to rank their burnout on a 5-point Likert scale. We collapsed responses into a dichotomous variable indicating severe burnout (=4 or 5 on the Likert scale). We used two weighted multiple logistic regression models to examine associations between severe burnout and work hours, practice characteristics and activities, and type of compensation for respondents in academic and community practice in Stata 15, controlling for demographics and type of practice (p