| The following article features coverage from the SGO 2022 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. Click here to read more of Cancer Therapy Advisor’s conference coverage. |
A survey revealed high rates of burnout and low professional fulfillment among Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) members during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than half of survey respondents met criteria for low professional fulfillment during both waves. Roughly 40% of respondents met criteria for burnout, and burnout was tied to anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
These findings were presented at the SGO 2022 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer by Caitlin Carr, MD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, New York.
Continue Reading
For this study, Dr Carr and colleagues sent an anonymous survey to SGO members during wave 1 (June 15 to July 1, 2020) and wave 2 (January 15 to 31, 2021) of the pandemic to assess the impact of COVID-19 on mental health.
The researchers used validated measures to assess professional fulfillment and burnout (PFI), generalized anxiety (GAD-2), depression (PHQ-2), and PTSD (IES-6), as well as asking novel questions about COVID-19 stressors.
The overall response rate was 30%, with 379 members responding. A majority of respondents were oncologists (76%), women (69%), and younger than 45 years old (55%).
Results
In the first wave, 59% of respondents met criteria for low professional fulfillment, 41% met criteria for burnout, 39% screened positive for PTSD, 25% screened positive for anxiety, and 16% screened positive for depression.
Respondents with low professional fulfillment were 4 times more likely to screen positive for PTSD and anxiety. Respondents with burnout were 11 times more likely to screen positive for anxiety and 7 times more likely to screen positive for depression and PTSD.
In the second wave, 51% of respondents met criteria for low professional fulfillment, 40% met criteria for burnout, 31% had a positive PTSD screen, 20% had a positive anxiety screen, and 9% had a positive depression screen.
Respondents with a higher institutional COVID-19 burden were 3 times more likely to report burnout and screen positive for PTSD. They were 2 times more likely to screen positive for anxiety.
A multivariable analysis including data from both waves showed a significant association between low professional fulfillment and anxiety (P <.01). The analysis also showed significant associations between burnout and PTSD, anxiety, and depression (P <.04).
“Moving forward, we believe it will be important to further identify or characterize modifiers of burnout and fulfillment in an attempt to individualize wellness further,” Dr Carr said.
Disclosures: Dr Carr reported having no conflicts of interest.
Read more of Cancer Therapy Advisor’s coverage of SGO 2022 by visiting the conference page.
Reference
Carr C, Layne T, Tomita S, et al. We can’t just wait this out: Burnout and fulfillment among SGO members over the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented at SGO 2022; March 18-21, 2022. Abstract 51.
