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. 2025 Jan 29;2(1):e2400010.
doi: 10.1200/OA.24.00010. eCollection 2025.

State of Professional Well-Being, Satisfaction, and Career Plans Among US Oncologists in 2023

Caroline Schenkel  1 , Laura A Levit  2 , Kelsey Kirkwood  2 , Rebecca Spence  2 , John M Burke  3 , Colleen M Gallagher  4 , Elizabeth Garrett-Mayer  2 , Molly McGinnis  5 , James D Morgante  2 , Ray D Page  6 , Judith Paice  7 , Eric Tetzlaff  8 , Eric Winer  9 , Fay J Hlubocky  10 , Tait Shanafelt  11
Affiliations

State of Professional Well-Being, Satisfaction, and Career Plans Among US Oncologists in 2023

Caroline Schenkel et al. JCO Oncol Adv. .

Abstract

Purpose: Recent data suggest that the rate of burnout among oncologists has risen over time. In addition to the negative effect of burnout on individuals, widespread burnout may prevent the oncology workforce from meeting patient care needs.

Methods: ASCO surveyed US-based oncologists in patient care roles about their professional well-being and satisfaction and the effect of both on their career plans. Burnout was assessed using measures of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization from the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey. Data from the 2023 survey were compared with data from Shanafelt et al (JCO, 2014) collected about oncologist burnout/well-being in 2013.

Results: In all, 328 responses to the 2023 survey were analyzed. Burnout was significantly higher compared with 2013, 45% in 2013 versus 59% in 2023 (P < .01). In 2023, <25% of oncologists reported feeling satisfied with their work-life integration, compared with nearly 35% in 2013 (P < .01). Burnout was significantly associated with being a caregiver in one's personal life, being under age 50 years, and working more than 60 hours per week (all P < .05). Over 20% of respondents reported that it was likely or definite that they would reduce their clinical hours in the next 12 months. Additional practice/administrative support and reducing work hours were identified as potential solutions to improve job satisfaction.

Conclusion: Oncologists in 2023 are experiencing higher rates of burnout compared with a decade ago. System-based interventions to reduce burnout are necessary to maintaining an adequate workforce to provide care for current and future patients with cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated unless otherwise noted. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to https://ascopubs.org/authors. Open Payments is a public database containing information reported by companies about payments made to US-licensed physicians (Open Payments). John M. Burke Consulting or Advisory Role: Genentech/Roche, AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Adaptive Biotechnologies, BeiGene, Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Nurix, Genmab, Foresight Diagnostics, Regeneron, Seagen Speakers' Bureau: Seagen, Beigene Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Genentech/Roche James D. Morgante Consulting or Advisory Role: AXIS Medical Education Tait Shanafelt Research Funding: Pharmacyclics (Inst), GlaxoSmithKline (Inst), Genentech (Inst), Celgene (Inst), Hospira (Inst), Cephalon (Inst), Polyphenon E International (Inst) Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Dr Shanafelt is co-inventor of the Well-being Index Instruments (Physician Well-being Index; Nurse Well-being Index; Medical Student Well-being Index; Well-being Index) and the Mayo Clinic Participatory Management Leadership Index. Mayo Clinic holds the copyright to these instruments and has licensed them for use outside Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic pays Dr Shanafelt receives a portion of any royalties it receives Other Relationship: Medical Center Open Payments Link: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/physician/429217 No other potential conflicts of interest were reported.

Figures

FIG 1.
FIG 1.
Factors affecting the quality of oncologists’ professional satisfaction. aRespondents selected their top two factors and thus percentage totals per group exceed 100.
FIG 2.
FIG 2.
Respondents’ future career plans.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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