CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2019; 40(01): 111-120
DOI: 10.4103/ijmpo.ijmpo_168_17
Original Article

Emotional exhaustion in cancer clinicians: A mixed methods exploration

Rhea Daruvala
Department of Palliative Care and Psycho-oncology, Tata Medical Centre, Major Arterial Road, Newtown, Kolkata, India
,
Maupali Ghosh
Department of Palliative Care and Psycho-oncology, Tata Medical Centre, Major Arterial Road, Newtown, Kolkata, India
,
Francesca Fratazzi
Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
,
Siti Adibah Norzan
Department of Combined Honours, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
,
Anirban Laha
Department of Internal Medicine, Tata Medical Centre, Major Arterial Road, Newtown, Kolkata, India
,
Rosina Ahmed
Department of Surgical Oncology, Tata Medical Centre, Major Arterial Road, Newtown, Kolkata, India
,
Samiran Panda
National AIDS Research Institute, 73, ‘G’-Block, MIDC, Bhosari, Pune, Maharashtra, India
,
Soumitra Shankar Datta
Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London W1T 7DN, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Financial support and sponsorship Nil.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to explore the associations of emotional exhaustion in oncology clinicians and perceptions of doctors about their work–life balance in a developing country. Methods: The current study used quantitative semi-structured interviews and qualitative in-depth interviews to explore emotional exhaustion and burnout in doctors in a tertiary care cancer center. Sociodemographic details, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Patient Health Questionnaire were used for the quantitative analysis. Results: Increased work pressure (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 5.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.01–14.47, P < 0.01), reduced job-related satisfaction (AOR: 3.56, 95% CI: 1.37–9.25, P < 0.01), being a woman (AOR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.2–9.5, P < 0.01), and having higher anxiety and depression scores (AOR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.11–7.46, P = 0.03) were independently associated with higher levels of emotional exhaustion. In the qualitative interviews, many doctors felt working in oncology a satisfying as well as stressful experience. Dealing with palliative and end-of-life situations and counseling patients and their family members about various treatment options contributed to the stress. Male and female clinicians viewed work–life balance differently. Female doctors charted a larger area of influence for which they felt responsible in work and life. Conclusion: Increased work pressure, reduced job satisfaction, and increased affective symptoms contribute to emotional exhaustion in oncology clinicians, and the risk increases especially in female doctors. Having gender-sensitive and employee-friendly policies will likely help in having a nurturing work environment.



Publication History

Article published online:
08 June 2021

© 2019. Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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