Combating Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Cancer Care

Linda Emanuel, MD, PhD; Frank D. Ferris, MD, FAAPHM; Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD; Jaime H. Von Roenn, MD

June 06, 2011

Points to Remember

Burnout is prevalent among cancer care providers and physicians. Women are more often affected by burnout than men. Age is an independent predictor of burnout, with a higher prevalence of burnout in people at earlier stages of their careers. To prevent -- or address -- burnout, monitor yourself for signs and symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue. The lifestyle management techniques will help you maintain balance in life and reduce the risk for burnout. Changes in management strategies combined with educational interventions may further reduce burnout.

Key Take-Home Points

Key dimensions of burnout are exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of personal ineffectiveness;
Burnout often presents as a feeling that you "don't care anymore;"
Burnout is related more to the situation than the individual;
Burnout is more prevalent in women than men and those in earlier stages of their careers;
Long work hours and work-home interference are strongly associated with burnout;
Burnout arises from chronic mismatches between people and their work settings;
Job engagement (energy, involvement, and efficacy) is conceptualized as the opposite of burnout;
Burnout, in contrast with depression, is specific to the work context;
Lifestyle management techniques (exercise, meditation, humor, etc.) can reduce vulnerability to burnout; and
Burnout can be prevented by changes in management combined with educational interventions and improved communication.

Pearls and Pitfalls of Burnout

Burnout is common; expect it and prevent it;
The working conditions, not the patients, are the most common cause of burnout; and
Trying to simply "suck it up" does not work.

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Cite this: Linda Emanuel, Frank D. Ferris, Charles F. von Gunten, et. al. Combating Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Cancer Care - Medscape - Jun 06, 2011.

Authors and Disclosures

Author(s)

Linda Emanuel, MD, PhD

Author, researcher, educator, previously practicing clinician; Principal, The EPEC Project; Director, Buehler Center on Aging, Heath and Society (where the EPEC Project and its derivatives are housed), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois

Disclosure: Linda Emanuel, MD, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Dr. Emanuel does not intend to discuss off-label uses of drugs, mechanical devices, biologics, or diagnostics approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States.

Dr. Emanuel does not intend to discuss investigational drugs, mechanical devices, biologics, or diagnostics not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

Frank D. Ferris, MD

Director, International Programs, Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice, San Diego, California; Professor, Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, San Diego, California; Co-principal, The EPEC Project

Disclosure: Frank D. Ferris, MD, FAAPHM, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Dr. Ferris does not intend to discuss off-label uses of drugs, mechanical devices, biologics, or diagnostics not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States.

Dr. Ferris does not intend to discuss investigational drugs, mechanical devices, biologics, or diagnostics not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD

Medical Director, Center for Palliative Studies, San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care, San Diego, California; Associate Clinical Professor, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine; Co-principal, The EPEC Project; Past Chairman, The American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Disclosure: Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Dr. von Gunten does not intend to discuss off-label uses of drugs, mechanical devices, biologics, or diagnostics approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States.

Dr. von Gunten does not intend to discuss investigational drugs, mechanical devices, biologics, or diagnostics not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

Jaime H. Von Roenn, MD

Medical Director, Palliative Care and Home Hospice Program, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois; Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Co-Principal, The EPEC Project; Editor, EPEC-O Curriculum; Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Supportive Oncology

Disclosure: Jamie H. Von Roenn, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Served as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: GTx; AstraZeneca
Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: GTx; AstraZeneca

Editor(s)

Cheryl Arenella, MD, MPH

Cancer Education Program Specialist, Contractor, National Cancer Institute, Office of Communications and Education, Office of Education and Special Initiatives, Rockville, Maryland

Disclosure: Cheryl Arenella, MD, MPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

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Combating Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Cancer Care

Points to Remember

Key Take-Home Points

Pearls and Pitfalls of Burnout

Tables

References

Authors and Disclosures

Authors and Disclosures

Author(s)

Linda Emanuel, MD, PhD

Frank D. Ferris, MD

Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD

Jaime H. Von Roenn, MD

Editor(s)

Cheryl Arenella, MD, MPH

Comments

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