The future of the oncology workforce since COVID-19: Results of the ESMO Resilience Task Force survey series

ABSTRACT

Background: The ESMO Resilience Task Force has investigated wellbeing since COVID-19 in relation to work, lifestyle and support factors in oncology professionals globally. We reported on the significant impact of the initial surge of the pandemic on wellbeing and job performance (Banerjee et al. 2021). As the pandemic continues, it is imperative to understand experiences and concerns to better inform support measures for the oncology workforce. Methods: Three anonymous online surveys were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (S1, Apr/May 2020;S2, Jul/Aug 2020;S3, Feb/Mar 2021). Longitudinal analysis of responses at these timepoints were conducted. Here, we present responses to questions on job demands and resources, and perceived job performance since COVID-19 (JP-CV). Results: We analysed 3894 individual responses (S1, n=1520;S2, n=942;S3, n=1432) 53% (n=1961/3731) female, 45% (n=1679/3731) =/<40 years, 31% (n=1132/3692) non-white ethnicity, >100 countries. There has been significant increases from S1 to S3 (p<0.001) in feeling overwhelmed with workload (29% vs 45%);COVID-19-related clinical (14% vs 58%) and research (16% vs 64%) work;out-of-hours work (16% vs 41%), shift work (12% vs 26%) and overall working hours (17% vs 47%);and inadequate time for personal/family life (35% vs 45%). 59% (n=1156/1946) were unable to take allocated annual leave. While JP-CV has improved (34% vs 49%, p<0.001), there remained concerns about the negative impact of the pandemic on career development/training (43%), job security (37%) and international fellowship opportunities (76%). Overall, less than half had felt supported by their work management, professional societies or government, and/or had access to wellbeing support services. 25% (n=266/1086) were considering changing their future career with 38% (n=100/266) contemplating leaving the profession. Conclusions: Since COVID-19, oncology professionals have reported increased job demands, concerns over career development/training and job security, and inadequate time for personal life. There is a real threat of potential attrition in the current workforce. National and international stakeholders must act together to ensure robust recovery plans as we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding: ESMO. Disclosure K.H.J. Lim Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker, Speaker honorarium Janssen;Non-Financial Interests, Officer, Trainees committee representative for the North West deanery Royal College of Physicians (UK);Non-Financial Interests, Officer, Trainees representative at the RCP Patient Safety Committee Royal College of Physicians (UK);Non-Financial Interests, Officer, ACP representative at the RCP Student and Foundation Doctor Network (SFDN) Royal College of Physicians (UK);Non-Financial Interests, Officer, Trainees committee member Association of Cancer Physicians (ACP) UK;Non-Financial Interests, Officer, Young Oncologists Committee (YOC) ESMO;Non-Financial Interests, Officer, Resilience Task Force (RTF) ESMO;Other, Currently funded by Wellcome-Imperial 4i Clinical Research Fellowship Wellcome Trust. K. Punie Other, Institutional, Other, institution received speaker fees or honoraria for consultancy/advisory roles AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Gilead Sciences, Medscape, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Hoffmann La Roche, Mundi Pharma, PharmaMar, Teva, Vifor Pharma;Other, Institutional, Research Grant Sanofi;Other, Personal, Other, Travel support AstraZeneca, Novartis, Pfizer, PharmaMar and Roche. C. Oing Other, Personal, Other, research funding and honoraria Roche;Other, Personal, Other, travel grant and honoraria Medac Pharma and Ipsen Pharma;Other, Personal, Other, travel grant PharmaMar. E. Elez Other, Personal, Other, personal fees Hoffman La - Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb, Servier, Amgen, Merck Serono, ArrayBiopharma, Sanof. T.M.S. Amaral Other, Personal, Other, personal fees Pierre Fabre and CeCaVa;Other, Personal, Other, personal fees and travel grants BMS;Other, Perso al, Other, grants, personal fees and travel grants Novartis;Other, Personal, Other, grants Neracare, Sanofi and SkylineDx. P. Garrido Lopez Other, Personal, Other, personal fees Roche, MSD, BMS, Boerhinger-Ingelheim, Pfizer, AbbVie, Novartis, Lilly, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Blueprint Medicines, Takeda, Gilead, and ROVI. M. Lambertini Other, Personal, Other, Consultant Roche, AstraZeneca, Lilly and Novartis;Other, Personal, Other, Honoraria Theramex, Roche, Novartis, Takeda, Pfizer, Sandoz, and Lilly. C.B. Westphalen Other, Personal, Other, honoraria, travel support and advisory board Bayer, BMS, Celgene, Roche, Servier, Shire/Baxalta, RedHil, and Taiho;Other, Personal, Other, speaker honoraria Ipsen;Other, Personal, Advisory Board GSK, Sirtex, and Rafael. J.B.A.G. Haanen Other, Personal, Advisory Role, personal fees for advisory role Neogene Tx;Other, Institutional, Other, grants and fees paid to institution BMS, MSD, Novartis, BioNTech, Amgen;Other, Institutional, Other, fees paid to institution Achilles Tx, GSK, Immunocore, Ipsen, Merck Serono, Molecular Partners, Pfizer, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, Third Rock Ventures, Vaximm. C. Hardy Other, Personal, Other, Director of a private company Hardy People Ltd. Hardy People Ltd. S. Banerjee Other, Institutional, Research Grant AstraZeneca, Tesaro and GSK;Other, Personal, Other, Honoraria Amgen, AstraZeneca, MSD, GSK, Clovis, Genmab, Merck Serono, Mersana, Pfizer, Seattle Genetics, and Tesaro. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.