2020 BC Cancer core medical staff work engagement and burnout survey

Physician burnout remains a significant threat to the viability of Canada’s health care system. Between November 2019 and March 2020, an engagement and burnout survey was completed by BC Cancer oncology physicians (n = 258) and Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology members (n = 333). The survey completion rates for BC Cancer and the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology were 62% and 72%, respectively. We used national Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology data as a contrasting benchmark to compare the level of engagement and burnout in BC to that of national oncology staff. Eighty-eight percent of radiation oncologists, 77% of medical oncologists, and 41% of general practitioners in oncology had negative scores in at least one of the three burnout domains (exhaustion, cynicism, or inefficacy), and the full burnout syndrome (negative scores in all three domains) was recorded in 22% of BC oncology physicians, which was the highest in the country. BC Cancer oncology physicians reported the lowest work engagement in Canada and cited concerns about poor workplace efficiency, heavy workloads, lack of control and input into administrative policies, and impaired ability to provide high-quality care. A prevalent attitude of “excellent collegial atmosphere” and willingness to “try something new,” partnered with an engaged administration, might enable the development of strategies to improve the well-being of the oncology physician workforce, and consequently the delivery of cancer care in BC.