1
|
Bluth EI, Frush DP, Oates ME, LaBerge J, Pan HY, Newhauser WD, Rosenthal SA. Medical workforce in the United States. J Appl Clin Med Phys 2022; 23 Suppl 1:e13799. [PMID: 36382354 PMCID: PMC9880972 DOI: 10.1002/acm2.13799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This section focuses on the professional workforce comprised of the primary medical specialties that utilize ionizing radiation in their practices. Those discussed include the specialties of radiology and radiation oncology, as well as the subspecialties of radiology, namely diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, nuclear radiology, and nuclear medicine. These professionals provide essential health care services, for example, the interpretation of imaging studies, the provision of interventional procedures, radionuclide therapeutic treatments, and radiation therapy. In addition, they may be called on to function as part of a radiologic emergency response team to care for potentially exposed persons following radiation events, for example, detonation of a nuclear weapon, nuclear power plant accidents, and transportation incidents. For these reasons, maintenance of an adequate workforce in each of these professions is essential to meeting the nation's future needs. Currently, there is a shortage for all physicians in the medical radiology workforce.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward I. Bluth
- Department of RadiologyOchsner Clinic FoundationNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | - Donald P. Frush
- Department of RadiologyDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - M. Elizabeth Oates
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| | - Jeanne LaBerge
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hubert Y. Pan
- Sutter Radiation Oncology CenterSacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Wayne D. Newhauser
- Department of Physics and AstronomyLouisiana State University and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer CenterBaton RougeLouisianaUSA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu J, Chen YJ, Williams TM, Fields E, Kavanagh B, Shah C, Royce T, Ladbury C, Amini A, Glaser S. Evaluation of Radiation Oncologist And Trainee Opinions on Residency Expansion, Possible Actions, and Training Program Accreditation Changes in the United States. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022; 114:16-20. [PMID: 35595159 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To sample U.S. radiation oncologist and trainee opinions regarding residency expansion, what action(s) should be taken to limit residency supply, if any, and the proposed Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS An online survey was distributed to 1048 attending radiation oncologists by email and ∼800 residents through their program coordinators. The survey asked respondents to rank how strongly they agreed with certain statements regarding residency supply, possible solutions to address any perceived oversupply, and the proposed ACGME changes on a 1-10 disagreement-to-agreement scale. The 16% response rate yielded 294 responses for analysis. RESULTS Of the respondents, 90 (30%) were residents, and 204 (70%) were attendings, of whom 117 (57%) were academic, and 87 (43%) were non-academic. 86% agreed that there is a residency oversupply issue, and 91% agreed that actions should be taken to limit residency expansion. On chi-square test, residents and attendings were similarly likely to agree that there is a residency oversupply issue (93% and 89%, p=0.27), although residents were more likely to agree that this oversupply should be acted upon compared to attendings (100% and 88%, p<0.01). Regarding possible solutions, respondents were most likely to agree that further expansion should be limited (90%), program requirements should be made more stringent (76%), and the use of the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program should be limited (SOAP) (69%). Proposed ACGME changes that respondents were most likely to agree with included requiring that programs have modern image guidance, stereotactic radiotherapy, and brachytherapy techniques (98%) and have 4+ faculty members and maintain a faculty-to-resident ratio of >1.5:1 (86%). Case log minimums most supported to be increased were 4 uterus (65%) and 11 postmastectomy breast (61%) simulations. CONCLUSIONS The majority of respondents agree that there is a residency oversupply issue and that actions should be taken to limit residency expansion and make program requirements more stringent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | - Yi-Jen Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | - Terence M Williams
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | - Emma Fields
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Brian Kavanagh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Chirag Shah
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Trevor Royce
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Flatiron Health, New York City, New York
| | - Colton Ladbury
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | - Arya Amini
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | - Scott Glaser
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yaney A, Mladkova N, Jhawar SR. For the Love of Radiation Oncology: A Resident Trainee Perspective. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 111:836. [PMID: 34560026 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Yaney
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Nikol Mladkova
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Sachin R Jhawar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang MH, Loewen SK, Giuliani M, Fairchild A, Yee D, Debenham BJ. Motivations, Well-Being, and Career Aspirations of Radiation Oncology Resident Physicians in Canada. JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER EDUCATION 2021; 36:933-940. [PMID: 32140969 DOI: 10.1007/s13187-020-01717-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Prior Pan-Canadian surveys of Radiation Oncology (RO) residents reveal a decrease in Canadian RO employment opportunities. Canadian RO resident levels increased from 130 in 2003, peaked at 209 in 2009, then decreased to 130 in 2017. Recognizing that RO has entered another period of transition, we re-examined resident motivations and perspectives on the job market and explored well-being and career aspirations among a contemporary cohort of Canadian RO residents. An online survey was distributed to residents at all Canadian RO training programs. Surveys consisted of 75 open-ended, Likert-scale, matrix-style, and multiple-choice questions. Student's t test compared subgroups, with statistical significance at p ≤ 0.05. Out of 128 eligible residents, 84 completed the survey (66% response rate) with representative sampling from each training year. Demographics reveal 53% male, and 85% Canadian registry-funded. Top training-related stressors were exam performance, job prospects, and physical/psychological demands of residency. Most intend to pursue fellowship post-residency (80%) and practice in Canada (88%). Few believe they can obtain staff positions treating preferred tumor sites (38%) or at preferred geographic locations (28%). Residents view job market being less competitive than 5 years ago (40%) and predict it will be less competitive in 5 years (60%). Canadian RO residents feel adequately trained, and most pursue post-residency fellowships. Current perceptions of the Canadian job market remain guarded, but appear more optimistic about the future. This update provides insights into current RO training and identifies areas that could be addressed by incoming competency-based medical education models for RO.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Wang
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada.
| | - Shaun K Loewen
- Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Meredith Giuliani
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alysa Fairchild
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - Don Yee
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - Brock J Debenham
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Reasons for Declining Applicant Numbers in Radiation Oncology From the Applicants' Perspective: Results From the Applicant Concerns and Radiation Oncology Sources Survey (ACROSS). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 111:317-327. [PMID: 34023422 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Applications to radiation oncology in the United States have decreased the past 3 years, resulting in unfilled residency positions (30 [14.5%] in 2019 and 35 [18.5%] in 2020). The aim of this study is to understand the concerns among radiation oncology applicants and whether these concerns may have led to a decline in applications. METHODS AND MATERIALS An Internet-based survey was e-mailed to all radiation oncology applicants participating in the 2020 National Resident Matching Program Match for whom e-mail addresses could be obtained (n = 145, 78.8%). The survey was open from May to September 2020. RESULTS Survey responses were received for 98 applicants out of 145 (67.6%) available applicant e-mails. Applicants' top-rated concerns were location of practice restrictions and residency expansion/oversupply of practicing physicians. Applicants were less concerned about a lack of exposure to the field of radiation oncology, competitiveness of the match, and the content of residency training. The sources of information which applicants used most, which applicants trusted most, and which promoted the most optimism among applicants were radiation oncology attending and resident physicians. The sources of information which applicants used least, which applicants trusted least, and which promoted the most pessimism among applicants were online resources. As a result of their concerns, 27 (28%) respondents strongly considered choosing a different field of medicine. Applicants identified 93 fellow graduating medical students who were interested in radiation oncology but chose not to apply; applicants reported that potential applicants chose not to apply most often due to concerns about location of practice restrictions and residency expansion/oversupply of practicing physicians. CONCLUSIONS Applicant concerns about residency expansion and location of practice restrictions are prevalent and may have led to declining applications to radiation oncology. To assuage applicant concerns, radiation oncology stakeholders must address these concerns by mitigating underlying problems.
Collapse
|
6
|
Shah C, Royce TJ. Chicken Little or Goose-is-Cooked? The State of the US Radiation Oncology Workforce: Workforce Concerns in US Radiation Oncology. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 110:268-271. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.11.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
7
|
Wu TC, McCloskey SA, Wallner PE, Steinberg ML, Raldow AC. The Declining Residency Applicant Pool: A Multi-Institutional Medical Student Survey to Identify Precipitating Factors. Adv Radiat Oncol 2020; 6:100597. [PMID: 33102934 PMCID: PMC7572437 DOI: 10.1016/j.adro.2020.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of our study was to better understand and identify concerns that may be responsible for the declining radiation oncology (RO) residency applicant pool. Methods and Materials All RO residency programs affiliated with a US medical school were asked to participate in the study survey. An optional and anonymous survey consisting of 12 questions was emailed to all graduating medical students in 2020 at the 12 allopathic medical schools that agreed to survey administration. Survey responses were collected from March to May 2020. Results The study consisted of 265 survey responses out of 1766 distributed to eligible medical students, resulting in a response rate of 15.0%. The majority of students reported no exposure to RO (60.8%) and never considered it as a career option (63.8%). Neutral perceptions of the field were more common (54.3%) than positive (39.6%) and negative (6.0%). The top factors attracting medical students to RO were perceptions of high salary, favorable lifestyle and workload, and technological focus. The top negative factors were the field’s interplay with physics, competitive United States Medical Licensing Examination board scores for matched applicants, and the focus placed on research during medical school. In the subgroup of students who were interested in RO but ultimately applied to another specialty, the job market was the most salient concern. Conclusions Finding a place for RO in medical school curricula remains a challenge, with most surveyed students reporting no exposure during their education. Concern over the job market was the primary deterrent for medical students interested in pursuing RO. For disinterested students who had not considered RO as a career option, the required physics knowledge was the main deterrent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Trudy C Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Susan A McCloskey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Paul E Wallner
- 21st Century Oncology, Inc, Ft. Myers, Florida.,The American Board of Radiology, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Michael L Steinberg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ann C Raldow
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
What Has Been Will Be Again—Challenges in Post-Residency Radiation Oncology Employment. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020; 106:216-217. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.08.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
9
|
Doke K, Mohamad O, Royce TJ, Meyer J, Chen AM. Fellowship Training Programs in Radiation Oncology: A Snapshot From 2005 to 2017. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019; 104:765-772. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|
10
|
Royce TJ, Davenport KT, Dahle JM. A Burnout Reduction and Wellness Strategy: Personal Financial Health for the Medical Trainee and Early Career Radiation Oncologist. Pract Radiat Oncol 2019; 9:231-238. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2019.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
11
|
The Employment Experience of Recent Graduates From US Radiation Oncology Training Programs: The Practice Entry Survey Results From 2012 to 2017. J Am Coll Radiol 2019; 16:878-885. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2018.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
12
|
Chowdhary M, Switchenko JM, Sen N, Chhabra AM, Katz LM, Jegadeesh NK, Barry PN, Wang D, Royce TJ, Curran WJ, Vapiwala N, Wilson LD, Abrams RA, Marwaha G, Patel KR. The Impact of Graduates' Job Preferences on the Current Radiation Oncology Job Market. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019; 104:27-32. [PMID: 30583039 PMCID: PMC6985896 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the role of radiation oncology (RO) graduates' application patterns and personal preferences in current labor concerns. METHODS AND MATERIALS An anonymous, voluntary survey was distributed to 665 domestic RO graduates from 2013 to 2017. Questions assessed graduates' regional (Northeast [NE]; Midwest [MW]; South [SO]; West [WT]) job type and population size preferences. Top regional choice was compared across other categorical and numerical variables using the χ2 test and analysis of variance, respectively. RESULTS Complete responses were obtained from 299 (45.0% response rate) participants: 82 (27.4%), 74 (24.7%), 85 (28.4%), and 58 (19.4%) graduated from NE, MW, SO, and WT programs. The most to least commonly applied regions were SO (69.2%), MW (55.9%), and then NE/WT (55.2% each). The first and last regional choices were the WT (29.4%) and MW (15.7%), respectively. The most and least common application and top choice preferences were consistent in terms of city size: >500,000 (86.0% and 64.5%, respectively) and <100,001 (26.1% and 7.0%, respectively). The majority of applicants applied to both academic and nonacademic positions (60.9%), with top job type choice being equally split. The majority of respondents independently received a job offer in their preferred region (75.3%), city population size (72.6%) or job type (81.9%). Additionally, 52.5% received a job offer that included all three preferences. Those who underwent residency training (44.3% vs 62.0%-83.6%, P < .001) or medical schooling (50.7% vs 56.3%-75.6%, P < .001) or grew up in the MW (60.8% vs 70.0%-74.7%, P < .001) were least likely to choose this region as their top regional choice compared with other regions. CONCLUSIONS The MW and jobs in smaller cities are less appealing to RO graduates, even if they receive training in the MW, which may contribute to current job market concerns. Nonetheless, the majority of respondents received a job offer in the region, population size, and job type of their top choice. Assessing prospective candidates' city size and geographic preferences and prioritizing applicants who are compatible with positions may help address potential job market discrepancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mudit Chowdhary
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Jeffrey M Switchenko
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Neilayan Sen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Arpit M Chhabra
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Leah M Katz
- New York-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, Peekskill, New York
| | - Naresh K Jegadeesh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Parul N Barry
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Dian Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Trevor J Royce
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Walter J Curran
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Neha Vapiwala
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lynn D Wilson
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ross A Abrams
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Gaurav Marwaha
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kirtesh R Patel
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Fung CY, Chen E, Vapiwala N, Pohar S, Trifiletti D, Truong MT, Uschold G, Schuster J, Patel A, Jani A, Mohindra P, Sanders T, Gardner L, Arnone A, Royce T. The American Society for Radiation Oncology 2017 Radiation Oncologist Workforce Study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019; 103:547-556. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
14
|
Royce TJ, Qureshi MM, Truong MT. Radiotherapy Utilization and Fractionation Patterns During the First Course of Cancer Treatment in the United States From 2004 to 2014. J Am Coll Radiol 2018; 15:1558-1564. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2018.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
|
15
|
Mohamad O, Doke K, Marcrom S, Chen AM, Royce TJ, Meyer JJ. A Fellow's Fate: Employment Outcomes of Radiation Oncology Fellowship Graduates. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2018; 102:16-17. [PMID: 30102192 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
16
|
In Regard to Chowdhary et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2018; 100:530. [PMID: 29353664 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
17
|
Leung J, Kariyasawam S, Forstner D, Chee R, James M. Employment for radiation oncologists in Australia and New Zealand: Recent graduates survey of experiences and perspectives. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2017; 62:94-101. [PMID: 29063700 DOI: 10.1111/1754-9485.12649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This paper reports the key findings of the first survey of recent Radiation Oncology graduates in Australia, New Zealand (ANZ) and Singapore. It explores their experiences in entering the workforce, challenges and perspectives. METHODS The survey was conducted in April and May 2016 focusing on graduates from 2013 to 2015. The questions related to relocation, current employment, experiences in finding a job, intentions regarding rural work, job satisfaction and perceptions of the job market. RESULTS The response rate was 80% (66/83). Most respondents (72.7%) commenced and completed their training in the same location. The large majority of respondents (91%) were employed with 51% as consultants, 20% as fellows and 15% as locums. Sixty-four percent of respondents spent more than twelve weeks looking for a consultant position, but this was expected by 80% of respondents. Seventy-three percent of respondents spent more than four weeks looking for a fellowship position, but this was expected by 90%. Twenty seven percent of respondents lived and worked in a rural area with nearly half of respondents who did not work in a rural area, indicating they would consider so if certain conditions were met. The large majority (75%) were satisfied with their current employment with only seven percent reporting dissatisfaction. Respondents felt that the job market was very competitive because of the large number of trainees and better workforce planning was required to ensure a reasonable balance between workforce supply and demand. Some career guidance and mentorship for readiness for the job market was thought to be beneficial. CONCLUSIONS This initial survey of recent Radiation Oncology graduates in ANZ and Singapore has revealed the large majority are employed as consultants or fellows, although there is apprehension about a competitive job market. The survey should be repeated on a regular basis to monitor future trends.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Leung
- University of Adelaide Medical School, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Adelaide Radiotherapy Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sanjeewanie Kariyasawam
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dion Forstner
- Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Raphael Chee
- School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Melissa James
- Christchurch School of Medicine, Canterbury Regional Cancer and Blood Service, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Ramey SJ, Ahmed AA, Takita C, Wilson LD, Thomas CR, Yechieli R. Burnout Evaluation of Radiation Residents Nationwide: Results of a Survey of United States Residents. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2017; 99:530-538. [PMID: 29280446 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess rates of burnout among US radiation oncology residents and evaluate program/resident factors associated with burnout. METHODS AND MATERIALS A nationwide survey was distributed to residents in all US radiation oncology programs. The survey included the Maslach Burnout Index-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) as well as demographic and program-specific questions tailored to radiation oncology residents. Primary endpoints included rates of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment from MBI-HSS subscale scores. Binomial logistic models determined associations between various residency/resident characteristics and high burnout levels. RESULTS Overall, 232 of 733 residents (31.2%) responded, with 205 of 733 (27.9%) completing the MBI-HSS. High levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were reported in 28.3% and 17.1%, respectively; 33.1% experienced a high burnout level on at least 1 of these 2 MBI-HSS subscales. Low rates of personal accomplishment occurred in 12% of residents. Twelve residents (5.9%) reported feeling "at the end of my rope" on a weekly basis or more. On multivariable analysis there was a statistically significant inverse association between perceived adequacy of work-life balance (odds ratio 0.37; 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.83) and burnout. CONCLUSIONS Approximately one-third of radiation oncology residents have high levels of burnout symptoms, consistent with previous oncology literature, but lower levels than those among physicians and residents of other specialties. Particularly concerning was that more than 1 in 20 felt "at the end of my rope" on a weekly basis or more. Targeted interventions to identify symptoms of burnout among radiation oncology residents may help to prevent the negative downstream consequences of this syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Ramey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida
| | - Awad A Ahmed
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida
| | - Cristiane Takita
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida
| | - Lynn D Wilson
- Department of Dermatology and Therapeutic Radiology, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Charles R Thomas
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Raphael Yechieli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Chowdhary M, Chhabra AM, Switchenko JM, Jhaveri J, Sen N, Patel PR, Curran WJ, Abrams RA, Patel KR, Marwaha G. Domestic Job Shortage or Job Maldistribution? A Geographic Analysis of the Current Radiation Oncology Job Market. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2017; 99:9-15. [PMID: 28816168 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine whether permanent radiation oncologist (RO) employment opportunities vary based on geography. METHODS AND MATERIALS A database of full-time RO jobs was created by use of American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Career Center website posts between March 28, 2016, and March 31, 2017. Jobs were first classified by region based on US Census Bureau data. Jobs were further categorized as academic or nonacademic depending on the employer. The prevalence of job openings per 10 million population was calculated to account for regional population differences. The χ2 test was implemented to compare position type across regions. The number and locations of graduating RO during our study period was calculated using National Resident Matching Program data. The χ2 goodness-of-fit test was then used to compare a set of observed proportions of jobs with a corresponding set of hypothesized proportions of jobs based on the proportions of graduates per region. RESULTS A total of 211 unique jobs were recorded. The highest and lowest percentages of jobs were seen in the South (31.8%) and Northeast (18.5%), respectively. Of the total jobs, 82 (38.9%) were academic; the South had the highest percentage of overall academic jobs (35.4%), while the West had the lowest (14.6%). Regionally, the Northeast had the highest percentage of academic jobs (56.4%), while the West had the lowest (26.7%). A statistically significant difference was noted between regional academic and nonacademic job availability (P=.021). After we accounted for unit population, the Midwest had the highest number of total jobs per 10 million (9.0) while the South had the lowest (5.9). A significant difference was also observed in the proportion of RO graduates versus actual jobs per region (P=.003), with a surplus of trainees seen in the Northeast. CONCLUSIONS This study presents a quantitative analysis of the RO job market. We found a disproportionately small number of opportunities compared with graduates trained in the Northeast, as well as a significant regional imbalance of academic versus nonacademic jobs. Long-term monitoring is required to confirm these results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mudit Chowdhary
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Arpit M Chhabra
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jeffrey M Switchenko
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jaymin Jhaveri
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Neilayan Sen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Pretesh R Patel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Walter J Curran
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ross A Abrams
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kirtesh R Patel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Gaurav Marwaha
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Royce TJ, Katz MS, Vapiwala N. Training the Radiation Oncology Workforce of the Future: Course Correction to Supply the Demand. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2017; 97:881-883. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|