Sloan, Jeff A.

6533 Background: Although it can be rewarding, caring for patients with cancer is also demanding and stressful. Oncologists work long hours, supervise administration of highly toxic therapy, and continually observe death and suffering. While isolated studies have explored burnout in national samples of U.S. oncologists (last in 2003), little is known about the personal and professional characteristics related to burnout and career satisfaction. Methods: Between October 2012 - January 2013, ASCO conducted a national surveyof ~3000 U.S. oncologists evaluating burnout and career satisfaction. The survey sample was constructed from the member registry to include an equal number of men/women and an equal proportion of individuals from all career stages (<10 yrs, 10-19 yrs, >20 yrs). Validated tools were used to assess burnout and well-being. Results: As of January 2012, 1041 (35%) oncologists had returned surveys (median age 52 years; 50% women). Among responders, 355 (34%) were in academic practice (AP) and 447 (43%) in private practice (PP) with the remainder in other settings (e.g. military, veterans, industry). Oncologists worked an average of 51 hours/week and saw a mean of 51 outpatients/week. Although average hours worked for oncologists in PP and academic practice were similar (AP=54.6/wk; PP=54.2/wk), profound differences in other practice characteristics were observed with respect to sub-specialization (AP=81%; PP=17%), time devoted to clinical care, patients seen per week (AP=37; PP=74), time devoted to education, and method of compensation. Relative to 2011, 23% of oncologists reported a >10% decline in take home pay in 2012 (>10% decline AP=8%; PP=34%). Overall, 454 (45%) of oncologists had at least one symptom of burnout (e.g. emotional exhaustion, depersonalization) on the Maslach Burnout Inventory (AP=47%; PP=51%; p=0.19). While a majority were satisfied with their career (83%) and specialty (80%) choice, both measures of career satisfaction were lower for PP relative to AP (all p<0.005). Conclusions: Burnout is common among oncologists. Detailed multivariate analyses to identify personal and professional characteristics associated with burnout and career satisfaction are underway and will be presented.

e16572 Background: The Bowel Function Questionnaire (BFQ) has been used in clinical trials to document patient-reported symptoms following pelvic radiation therapy (RT). This study evaluated the importance patients placed on the symptoms included in the BFQ as measured by a Content Validity Questionnaire (CVQ). Methods: Patients treated with pelvic RT assessed symptoms and importance at baseline, after completion of RT (4 weeks), and 12 and 24 months. BFQ measured quality of life (QOL) and symptoms of: nocturnal bowel movements, incontinence, greater than one bowel movement in 30 minutes, need for protective clothing, inability to differentiate stool and gas, liquid bowel movements, urgency, cramping, and bleeding. Bowel movement frequency was also assessed. Symptoms were rated via the CVQ as “not very important,” “moderately unimportant,” “neutral,” “moderately important,” or “very important." Summary statistics were compiled. Fisher Exact, Chi-Square and Wilcoxon methodology compared BFQ and CVQ results. Results: 125 patients participated. All symptoms were rated as moderately important or very important by most patients.Measures of bowel function of greatest importance (moderately or very important) at baseline were ability to control bowel movements (94%), not having to wear protective clothing (90%), and not having rectal bleeding (93%). In general, patients gave similar ratings of symptom importance at all time points in the study and ratings were independent of whether the symptom was experienced. With the exception of the need for protective clothing, the presence of a symptom at 4 weeks was associated with significantly worse QOL (p-values < 0.001 to 0.005). Conclusions: The BFQ has excellent content validity. Patients rated most symptoms measured by the BFQ as moderately important or very important, indicating the BFQ is an appropriate tool for symptom assessment during and after pelvic RT. With the exception of the need for protective clothing, the presence of every symptom measured by the BFQ was associated with worse QOL. These criteria make them appropriate targets for future research to mitigate radiation-related bowel dysfunction.

Purpose To evaluate the personal and professional characteristics associated with career satisfaction and burnout among US oncologists. Methods Between October 2012 and March 2013, the American Society of Clinical Oncology conducted a survey of US oncologists evaluating burnout and career satisfaction. The survey sample included equal numbers of men and women and represented all career stages. Results Of 2,998 oncologists contacted, 1,490 (49.7%) returned surveys (median age of respondents, 52 years; 49.6% women). Among the 1,117 oncologists (37.3% of overall sample) who completed full-length surveys, 377 (33.8%) were in academic practice (AP) and 482 (43.2%) in private practice (PP), with the remainder in other settings. Oncologists worked an average of 57.6 hours per week (AP, 58.6 hours per week; PP, 62.9 hours per week) and saw a mean of 52 outpatients per week. Overall, 484 oncologists (44.7%) were burned out on the emotional exhaustion and/or depersonalization domain of Maslach Burnout Inventory (AP, 45.9%; PP, 50.5%; P = .18). Hours per week devoted to direct patient care was the dominant professional predictor of burnout for both PP and AP oncologists on univariable and multivariable analyses. Although a majority of oncologists were satisfied with their career (82.5%) and specialty (80.4%) choices, both measures of career satisfaction were lower for those in PP relative to AP (all P < .006). Conclusion Overall career satisfaction is high among US oncologists, albeit lower for those in PP relative to AP. Burnout rates among oncologists seem similar to those described in recent studies of US physicians in general. Those oncologists who devote the greatest amount of their professional time to patient care seem to be at greatest risk for burnout.