Burnout syndrome, caused by chronic occupational stress, is characterised by physical and emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. This syndrome is concerning not only due to its negative effects on the well-being of healthcare professionals, but also because it compromises the quality of care by reducing empathy and safety in medical practice. While burnout has been studied among oncology residents,1–3 it is not clear whether this issue also affects specialists who have already completed their medical training. For this reason, between 1 March and 30 June 2023, we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study using an anonymised online questionnaire to assess the level of burnout among attending physicians in Medical and Radiation Oncology in Catalonia, and to analyse whether its occurrence is linked to specific professional and sociodemographic factors.
The sample included 105 attending physicians (72.4% from Medical Oncology and 65.7% women). Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS),4 which evaluates three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DP), and low personal accomplishment (PA). For each dimension, the presence, risk, or absence of burnout is determined. Burnout may occur in one, two, or all three dimensions—the latter constituting full burnout syndrome (BOS).
The levels of burnout are shown in Table 1. Over half of the participants presented with EE or DP, and 17% met the criteria for BS. Only 19% showed no signs of burnout. Statistical analyses (p < 0.05) revealed that burnout was more frequent among professionals under the age of 45. Additionally, EE was more prevalent among those who had previously received psychological or pharmacological treatment (p < 0.01). Lastly, 91% of participants considered it necessary to have access to a space for psycho-emotional support.
Burnout levels according to the MBI-HSS.
| (n = 105) | |
|---|---|
| Emotional exhaustion | |
| No | 24 (22.9%) |
| At risk | 16 (15.2%) |
| Yes | 65 (61.9%) |
| Depersonalisation | |
| No | 25 (23.8%) |
| At risk | 18 (17.1%) |
| Yes | 62 (59%) |
| Personal Accomplishment | |
| No | 48 (45.7%) |
| At risk | 25 (23.8%) |
| Yes | 32 (30.5%) |
| Burnout syndrome | |
| No | 20 (19%) |
| At risk (1 dimension affected) | 29 (27.6%) |
| At risk (2 dimensions affected) | 38 (36.2%) |
| Yes | 18 (17.1%) |
These data reveal a high incidence of EE and DP among oncologists, along with a clear demand for psycho-emotional support. Without excluding other contributing factors, two main reasons could explain these findings. On the one hand, the clinical workload may contribute to EE, with DP potentially acting as a coping mechanism. On the other hand, an increase in requests for psychological support from healthcare professionals has been observed following the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported in a 2023 study by the Galatea Foundation. Our results also suggest that the early years of professional practice following residency training (up to age 40–45) may constitute a “window period” during which professionals are more vulnerable to burnout. Transitioning to the role of attending physician entails new responsibilities, and it is during this phase that professionals may experience burnout, before developing adequate coping strategies. However, this issue warrants further investigation in future studies. Finally, having previously received psychological and/or pharmacological treatment appears to be a risk factor for developing some level of burnout, as observed in other studies.5
Although our study does not cover the entire population of oncology attending physicians and cannot determine whether previous psychological or pharmacological treatment was directly related to burnout symptoms, it does highlight the need to address EE and DP through burnout prevention and management programmes, especially among younger oncologists. A comprehensive approach to reducing burnout in the healthcare field must also target working conditions, promoting environments that enhance personal accomplishment and professional well-being.
Ethical considerations (informed consent)The study received favourable approval from the Bioethics Committee of the University of Barcelona (code CER042428).
FundingThis study did not receive any specific funding.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
