Abstract 5187
Background
The practice of oncology is challenging, especially when dealing with terminally ill patients and end of life. This is not without an emotional impact on oncologists, with potential negative effect on patient care and personal lives. We aimed to outline the main factors that makes of patients’ death an emotionally difficult experience, and to identify practical coping strategies.
Methods
An online survey was completed by 128 oncologists from three North African countries and France, on March-April 2019. All surveys were anonymous and confidential. The questionnaire included socio-demographic information, and sections about patients’ death and coping strategies.
Results
Most respondents were female (83.5%) and young oncologists (20-40 years-old), with less than 10 years professional experience (85.3%), but seeing more than 50 patients per week, and experiencing 0-2 deaths per month. They were mostly from Tunisia (n = 99), Morocco (n = 25), Algeria (n = 2) and France (n = 2). The majority was medical oncologists (57.9%), then radiation oncologists (29.4%). More than two-thirds of the oncologists reported that young age, long-term relationship and family denial towards the prognosis were the main factors making death or therapeutic failure announcement the most difficult. Unexpected evolution leading to death, and the non-access to more effective treatment in our countries had an emotional impact on 70% of the oncologists. A variety of coping strategies was identified: mainly peer support from colleagues and/or family and friends (53.5%), practicing hobbies (39.4%), seeking support in praying and faith (26.3%). Addictive behavior and/or medications were reported in 9.1%, significantly in single respondents (p 0.051). A majority (n = 83) reported a change in their character noticed by their families since the practice of oncology. The oncologists expressed becoming better able to set priorities (48%), more humble and human (61.4%) and motivated to improve their quality of health care (33.9%).
Conclusions
Dealing with patients’ death and confronting therapeutic failure have obviously an effect on oncologists’ personal life. We need to be aware of this issue, and to propose different coping strategies and interventions.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
5939 - Matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors genes abnormal DNA methylation in breast cancer
Presenter: Olga Simonova
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2703 - Uveal melanoma cell lines depend on multiple signaling pathways for survival
Presenter: John Park
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4849 - XAF1 and ZNF313 complex stimulates ER stress-induced apoptosis via direct GRP78 inhibition.
Presenter: Sungchan Jang
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4801 - XAF1 assembles a destructive complex to induce BRCA1-mediated apoptosis via suppressing ERa and switching estrogen function
Presenter: Seung-hun Jang
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3416 - Cancer associated fibroblasts promote cancer progression via Wnt2 secretion in colorectal cancer
Presenter: Hideaki Karasawa
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4273 - Paired-related homeobox 1 overexpression promotes invasion and metastasis and is a prognostic factor for worse disease-free survival in patients with lung cancer
Presenter: Jung-jyh Hung
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4241 - LncRNA-GC1 contributes to gastric cancer chemo-resistance through inhibition of miR-551b-3p and the overexpression of dysbindin
Presenter: Xin Guo
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5388 - GLPG 1790, a new selective EPHA2 inhibitor, is active in colorectal cancer cell lines belonging to the CMS4/mesenchymal-like subtype
Presenter: Pietro Paolo Vitiello
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5208 - Characterisation of growth hormone signal transduction in primary melanoma cell lines
Presenter: Karla Sousa
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3156 - LAPTM5 protein can regulate TGF-β mediated MAPK and Smad signaling pathways in ovarian cancer cell
Presenter: Yan Gao
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract