Burnout syndrome, known as burnouthas become a growing problem among healthcare professionals, particularly affecting oncologists, due to the intense emotional demands that this specialty entails. According to recent studies, up to 1 in 4 professionals are considering changing their career and more than a third (38%) are considering leaving their profession.[i].
These data show a growing concern regarding burnout due to its significant impact on health systems and its possible repercussions on the quality of patient care. For this reason, the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) together with the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) have delved into the causes and consequences of this phenomenon in a press conference where the ESMO Resilience Group has presented its recommendations to stop burnout and improve the well-being of oncologists throughout Europe.
He doctor Andrés Cervantes, President of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)has highlighted the creation in 2019 of the Resilience Task Force (RTF) of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) with the aim of supporting the well-being of oncology professionals worldwide and thus ensuring the correct care of patients.
He burnout It can lead to chronic health problems such as heart disease, stroke, obesity and mental disorders that can result in decreased quality of job satisfaction and a lower sense of achievement. It is also associated with reduced working hours, absenteeism, early retirement from clinical practice and reduced life expectancy.
A 2014 study by ESMO revealed that more than 70% of young oncologists were already showing signs of burnout. In recent years, and especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, this situation has worsened, with recent surveys indicating that up to 57% of European oncologists feel affected by burnout. burnoutand more than 40% are at risk of psychological well-being problems. According to Dr Cervantes, the success of the European Plan to Fight Cancer and the reduction of inequalities in access to cancer care depend on this burnout crisis being addressed urgently and in a coordinated manner. “ESMO strongly supports the creation of an EU Directive to address work-related psychosocial risks and to prevent burnout among healthcare professionals. The ESMO Resilience Group recommendations are a key resource to demonstrate that the problem is not only real, but can be solved with concrete actions and a determined will from all parties involved.”
The Dr Elena Élez, member of the ESMO and SEOM Resilience Working Groupshas pointed out that the trend in Spain is in line with what has been observed by European society: “After the pandemic, we conducted a survey at SEOM and one in four young doctors had considered changing specialties.” In his opinion, “These figures are alarming and underline the need for ongoing training and monitoring from the undergraduate level, residency and throughout the professional career.”.
This expert has also stated that professional burnout has a direct impact on the quality of patient care and on the National Health System itself. “Several studies have shown that burnout can not only impact patient care, but also have economic repercussions. The problem is largely due to the fact that it is often not detected in time.” For this reason, he has highlighted the work of organisations such as ESMO and SEOM to raise awareness of the problem, but, like Dr. Cervantes, he calls for the development of specific strategies and resources to prevent and address it effectively.
For its part, the Dr. Cesar Serrano, Secretary of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM): “The situation of burnout incidence in Medical Oncology in Spain does not seem to differ from that in the European environment. These data are worrying because a negative impact of the work on the medical professional ends up affecting the quality of care and the patient. It is essential to implement all possible measures to improve the well-being of oncologists on a daily basis, to prevent burnout from occurring, and if it unfortunately occurs, to have all sufficient resources available for a complete recovery of the professional. In this sense, a transversal involvement of multiple levels is required, such as scientific societies, Medical Oncology services and regional and national health management bodies.”
“Aware of the potential impact of burnout among its members, SEOM has been working for years to improve the well-being of oncology professionals, which will facilitate higher quality oncology care. Thus, in 2022 it created a Resilience Working Group to be able to analyse burnout and develop measures to prevent, cope with and treat it. As the Group’s first action, a decalogue has been presented that includes these preventive measures,” has explained.
And the Dr. Lara Iglesias, coordinator of the SEOM Resident Tutors Group, has advanced the conclusions of the work Medical oncology residents mentors: a target for resiliency interventions which will be presented in detail in the ESMO Congress 2024, to be held in Barcelona from 13 to 17 September. As explained, this project seeks to strengthen the resilience of medical oncology residents through mentoring. Specifically, by providing them with experienced mentors who guide them, support them and provide them with tools to manage the emotional burden and challenges of oncology practice, it is intended to improve their well-being, reduce the risk of burnout and foster greater long-term job satisfaction.
ESMO Resilience Group recommendations for managing psychosocial risks, optimising wellbeing and reducing burnout in oncology
Committed to providing resources and support, as well as advocating for policy changes at European level to mitigate this crisis, ESMO has presented a set of recommendations drawn up by its Resilience Group based on a comprehensive analysis of the psychosocial risks affecting oncologists across Europe. Key strategies proposed to reduce burnout and optimise the well-being of oncology professionals include:
Improve organizational communication.
Provide individualized professional supervision and mentoring.
Strengthen support in terms of training, development and job security.
Promote the continued use of virtual strategies and other innovative solutions to improve access to flexible work arrangements and professional development opportunities.
Ensure manageable workloads, including working hours and leave.
Provide a pleasant work environment with wellness resources.
Provide resilience training and invest in well-being.
Invest in talent retention and attraction.
Establish support measures tailored to meet the needs of different groups.
Provide support for managing personal wellbeing and resilience.
Influencing policy makers and stakeholders.
Burnout in oncology is a growing problem that needs to be addressed in an urgent and coordinated manner. ESMO’s recommendations aim not only to protect oncologists, but also to ensure quality care for patients. Through collaboration between organisations, professionals and policy makers, these measures are expected to contribute to a more sustainable and healthy working environment for oncology professionals across Europe.
#ESMO4Carers Campaign
ESMO has also launched the campaign #ESMO4Carersdesigned to raise awareness of the importance of caring for the mental health of oncologists and generate support within the medical community. This campaign is complemented by the holding of an international workshop on resilience and wellbeing in 2025 in Barcelona, which will offer practical tools and strategies for oncologists to face the emotional challenges of their profession and will serve to explore various wellbeing initiatives applied throughout Europe.
About ESMO 2024
The ESMO Congress is a globally influential oncology platform for clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, journalists and healthcare industry representatives from around the world.
The ESMO 2024 Congress will attract over 30,000 participants to disseminate the latest cutting-edge data, offer high-quality education, forward-thinking debates and excellent networking opportunities. More than 2,000 abstracts will be presented and discussed by over 300 experts.
References:
[i] Lim KHJ, Murali K, Thorne E, et al. The impact of COVID-19 on oncology professionals-one year on: lessons learned from the ESMO Resilience Task Force survey series. ESMO Open. 2022;7(1):100374.
Fuente: BERBES
