Impact of COVID-19 on work-related fatigue and satisfaction among oncology providers in Latin America: An analysis of the HOLA COVID-19 study.

Authors

Ana Velazquez Manana

Ana I. Velazquez Manana

University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, CA

Ana I. Velazquez Manana , Carolina Bernabe Ramirez , Coral Olazagasti , Paulo Gustavo Bergerot , Enrique Soto Perez De Celis , Jose Francisco Corona-Cruz , Ivy Riano , Francisca Ramirez , Jesus Del Santo Anampa Mesias , Carmen Cajina , Evelin Mena , Elias Gracia , Alvaro G. Menendez , Raimundo Bezares , Omar Orlando Castillo Fernandez , Liseth Duque Duran , Luis-Alberto Corrales , Cristiane Decat Bergerot , Narjust Duma , Christina Adaniel

Organizations

University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, Northwell Health, New York, NY, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, DF, Mexico, Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico, MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham, MA, SOLCA, Instituto Oncologico Nacional, Guayaquil, Ecuador, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua, Instituto Nacional Del Cancer Rosa Emilia Sanchez Perez de Tavares (INCART), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Nacional en Institute of Oncology, Havana, Cuba, Hartford Healthcare, Hartford, CT, Hospital Teodoro Alvarez Caba, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Instituto Oncologico Nacional, Panama City, Panama, Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Maria Vargas, Caracas, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Oncology Department, Hospital San Juan de Dios, San José Costa Rica, Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Clinica Alemana, Santiago, Chile

Research Funding

No funding received
None

Background: The well-being of oncology providers (OP) is in jeopardy with increasing workload, limited resources, and personal challenges that result from the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on work-related (WR) satisfaction and fatigue among OP in Latin America. Methods: We conducted an international cross-sectional online survey of OP practicing in Latin America. The survey was administered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Results: In August 2020, 704 OP from 20 Latin American countries completed the survey (77% of 913 who started the survey). Table outlines baseline characteristics. Higher frequency of WR fatigue (67% vs. 58%, p=0.010) and exhaustion (81% vs. 70%, p=0.001) were reported by OP who cared for patients with COVID-19, compared to OP who cared for patients without COVID-19. Providers that observed delays in referrals to radiation (p=0.002) and surgery (p=0.04) reported WR fatigue at higher rates than their counterparts. Higher exhaustion (p=0.016) and dissatisfaction (p=0.046) were reported by OP who lacked access to supportive services, as social work. A significantly higher proportion of women reported WR fatigue (72% vs. 56%, p=0.003) and exhaustion (86% vs. 68%, p=0.001), when compared to men. Women were more likely than men to endorse higher current levels of fatigue when compared to pre-COVID-19 (61% vs. 46%, p=0.0001). To reduce stress, women were more likely than men to cut the time spent watching the news (p=0.002). Both genders declined research collaborations and speaking opportunities. Conclusions: Fatigue and dissatisfaction with work-life were prevalent among OP in Latin America. Higher rates of WR fatigue were seen in women, OP caring for patients with COVID-19, and OP with patients who experienced cancer care delays. Our data imply that OP may be a prime target for psychosocial support, particularly as current challenges will continue for the foreseen future. Baseline characteristics (N=704).


N (%)
Gender

 Women


297 (42)
Specialty

 Medical Oncology/Hematology-Oncology

 Hematology

 Surgical Oncology

 Radiation Oncology

 Gynecologic Oncology


321 (46)

101 (14)

175 (25)

81 (12)

23 (3)
Practice setting

 University/Academic Hospital

 Private Practice


278 (39)

404 (57)
 Providers caring for patients with COVID-19
396 (57)
Provider satisfaction during COVID-19

 Unsatisfied with work-life

 Unsatisfied with family life


159 (23)

148 (21)
Work-related fatigue

 “I’ve felt exhausted by my work”

 “I feel fatigued when I wake up in the morning and have to start another day at work”

 “I feel more fatigued and exhausted than pre-COVID-19”


535 (76)

442 (63)

369 (53)
Measures to reduce stress and fatigue

 Watched less news

 Decreased clinical load

 Declined research collaborations

 Declined speaking opportunities


359 (51)

177 (25)

69 (10)

115 (16)

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Discussion Session

Session Title

Professional Development and Education Advances

Track

Medical Education and Professional Development

Sub Track

Clinician Burnout and Wellness

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr 11014)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.11014

Abstract #

11014

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

Abstract

2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Fear of COVID-19: Effects on mental health in under-resourced patients with cancer.

First Author: Valerie Lawhon

First Author: Mark Liu