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. 2023 Oct 2;6(10):e2340663.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.40663.

Association of Parental Status and Gender With Burden of Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards Among Oncology Physicians

Brittney L Chau  1 , Jonnby S LaGuardia  2 , Sungjin Kim  3 , Samuel C Zhang  4 , Eric Pletcher  5 , Nina N Sanford  6 , Ann C Raldow  7 , Lisa Singer  8 , Jun Gong  9 , Sukhmani K Padda  9 , Mitchell Kamrava  4 , Tara Cohen  5 , Devarati Mitra  10 , Katelyn M Atkins  4
Affiliations

Association of Parental Status and Gender With Burden of Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards Among Oncology Physicians

Brittney L Chau et al. JAMA Netw Open. .

Abstract

Importance: Tumor boards are integral to the care of patients with cancer. However, data investigating the burden of tumor boards on physicians are limited.

Objective: To investigate what physician-related and tumor board-related factors are associated with higher tumor board burden among oncology physicians.

Design, setting, and participants: Tumor board burden was assessed by a cross-sectional convenience survey posted on social media and by email to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center cancer physicians between March 3 and April 3, 2022. Tumor board start times were independently collected by email from 22 top cancer centers.

Main outcomes and measures: Tumor board burden was measured on a 4-point scale (1, not at all burdensome; 2, slightly burdensome; 3, moderately burdensome; and 4, very burdensome). Univariable and multivariable probabilistic index (PI) models were performed.

Results: Surveys were completed by 111 physicians (median age, 42 years [IQR, 36-50 years]; 58 women [52.3%]; 60 non-Hispanic White [54.1%]). On multivariable analysis, factors associated with higher probability of tumor board burden included radiology or pathology specialty (PI, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.79; P = .02), attending 3 or more hours per week of tumor boards (PI, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.58-0.76; P < .001), and having 2 or more children (PI, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52-0.77; P = .03). Early or late tumor boards (before 8 am or at 5 pm or after) were considered very burdensome by 33 respondents (29.7%). Parents frequently reported a negative burden on childcare (43 of 77 [55.8%]) and family dynamics (49 of 77 [63.6%]). On multivariable analysis, a higher level of burden from early or late tumor boards was independently associated with identifying as a woman (PI, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.57-0.78; P = .003) and having children (PI, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.84; P < .001). Independent assessment of 358 tumor boards from 22 institutions revealed the most common start time was before 8 am (88 [24.6%]).

Conclusions and relevance: This survey study of tumor board burden suggests that identifying as a woman or parent was independently associated with a higher level of burden from early or late tumor boards. The burden of early or late tumor boards on childcare and family dynamics was commonly reported by parents. Having 2 or more children, attending 3 or more hours per week of tumor boards, and radiology or pathology specialty were associated with a significantly higher tumor board burden overall. Future strategies should aim to decrease the disparate burden on parents and women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Singer reported receiving grants from the University of California San Francisco Program for Interprofessional Practice and Education outside the submitted work. Dr Padda reported receiving personal fees from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Regeneron, Mirati, Curio Science LLC, OncLive, Rayze Biotech, Sanofi Genzyme, Jazz Pharma, Nanobiotx, Genentech, and Physician Education Resource; research funding to institution from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, BioAlta, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, and Epicentrx outside the submitted work. Dr Kamrava reported receiving personal fees from Theragenics, Alessa, GTMedical, and Springer outside the submitted work. Dr Mitra reported receiving grants from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences outside the submitted work. Dr Atkins reported receiving honoraria from OncLive outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Comment in

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