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A Qualitative Study of Medical Oncologists’ Experiences of Their Profession and Workforce Sustainability

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  • Alex Broom
  • W K Tim Wong
  • Emma Kirby
  • David Sibbritt
  • Deme Karikios
  • Rosemary Harrup
  • Zarnie Lwin

Abstract

Background: Medical oncology is a steadily evolving field of medical practice and professional pathway for doctors, offering value, opportunity and challenge to those who chose this medical specialty. This study examines the experiences of a group of Australian medical oncologists, with an emphasis on their professional practice, career experiences, and existing and emerging challenges across career stages. Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 medical oncologists, including advanced trainees, early-career consultants and senior consultants, focusing on: professional values and experiences; career prospects and pathways; and, the nexus of the characteristics of the profession and delivery of care. Results: The following themes were emergent from the interviews: the need for professional reinvention and the pressure to perform; the importance, and often absence, of mentoring and feedback loops; the emotional labour of oncology; and, the impact of cascading workload volume on practice sustainability. Conclusions: Understanding professional experiences, career trajectories and challenges at the workforce level are crucial for understanding what drives the oncological care day-to-day. The results indicate that there are considerable potential tensions between the realities of professional, workforce demands and expectations for patient care. Such tensions have real and significant consequences on individual medical oncologists with respect to their futures, aspirations, satisfaction with work, caring practices, interactions with patients and potentially therapeutic outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Broom & W K Tim Wong & Emma Kirby & David Sibbritt & Deme Karikios & Rosemary Harrup & Zarnie Lwin, 2016. "A Qualitative Study of Medical Oncologists’ Experiences of Their Profession and Workforce Sustainability," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0166302
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166302
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Broom, Alex & Kirby, Emma & Good, Phillip & Wootton, Julia & Adams, Jon, 2013. "The art of letting go: Referral to palliative care and its discontents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 9-16.
    2. Christiana Hilmer & Michael Hilmer, 2007. "Women Helping Women, Men Helping Women? Same-Gender Mentoring, Initial Job Placements, and Early Career Publishing Success for Economics PhDs," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 97(2), pages 422-426, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaehee Yi & Min Ah Kim & Kwonho Choi, 2021. "What Makes Oncologists Feel Compassion Fatigue? Qualitative Findings From Korea," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440211, March.

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