title: Satisfaction with work-life balance and the career and retirement plans of US oncologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate satisfaction with work-life balance (WLB) and career plans of US oncologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  The American Society of Clinical Oncology conducted a survey of US oncologists evaluating satisfaction with WLB and career plans between October 2012 and March 2013. The sample included equal numbers of men and women from all career stages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2,998 oncologists contacted, 1,490 (49.7%) returned surveys. From 1,117 oncologists (37.3% of overall sample) completing full-length surveys, we evaluated satisfaction with WLB and career plans among the 1,058 who were not yet retired. The proportion of oncologists satisfied with WLB (n = 345; 33.4%) ranked lower than that reported for all other medical specialties in a recent national study. Regarding career plans, 270 oncologists (26.5%) reported a moderate or higher likelihood of reducing their clinical work hours in the next 12 months, 351 (34.3%) indicated a moderate or higher likelihood of leaving their current position within 24 months, and 273 (28.5%) planned to retire before 65 years of age. Multivariable analyses found women oncologists (odds ratio [OR], 0.458; P < .001) and those who devoted greater time to patient care (OR for each additional hour, 0.977; P < .001) were less likely to be satisfied with WLB. Satisfaction with WLB and burnout were the strongest predictors of intent to reduce clinical work hours and leave current position on multivariable analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Satisfaction with WLB among US oncologists seems lower than for other medical specialties. Dissatisfaction with WLB shows a strong relationship with plans to reduce hours and leave current practice. Given the pending US oncologist shortage, additional studies exploring interactions among WLB, burnout, and career satisfaction and their impact on career and retirement plans are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Tait D. Shanafelt, Daniel Satele, and Jeff Sloan, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Marilyn Raymond, William Benton Clark, and Amy E. Hanley, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Michael Kosty, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla; Helen Chew, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA; Leora Horn, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; John Pippen, Texas Oncology-Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, TX; Quyen Chu, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA; and William J. Gradishar, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
authors.forename: Tait D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Shanafelt
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosty
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Satele
authors.forename: Leora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pippen
authors.forename: Quyen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: William Benton
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gradishar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D012179:Retirement; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States