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
5344 - Global trends in population-based survival for 303,169 adults diagnosed with glioblastoma in 44 countries during 2000-2014 (CONCORD-3)
Presenter: Fabio Girardi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3088 - Spanish Survey of treatment recommendations for elderley patients with glioblastoma
Presenter: María Ángeles Vaz Salgado
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3484 - Updated analysis of the National Registry of Nervous System Tumors in Spain (RETSINE). RETSINE: National Registry of Nervous System Tumors of the Spanish Research Group in Neuro-oncology (GEINO) and Spanish Infrequent and Orphan Tumors Group (GETHI)
Presenter: Isaac Ceballos Lenza
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4737 - Development and validation of novel nomograms predicting survival of malignant ependymoma patients: A population-based study
Presenter: Alzhraa Abbas
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4740 - Characteristics, incidence, and survival of primary cerebral lymphoma: A population based study
Presenter: Sherief Ghozy
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5362 - Trends in Incidence and Survival Analyses of Adult-onset Medulloblastoma
Presenter: Feifei Lin
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3868 - Meta of classical chemotherapy compared with high-dose chemotherapy combined with autologous stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed medulloblastoma patients after radiotherapy
Presenter: Mengting Zhang
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4446 - Effect of cumulative dose of maintenance temozolomide on overall survival in patients with high grade glia tumors: a single institution analysis
Presenter: Marta Nerone
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5119 - Markers of systemic inflammation correlate with survival prognosis in patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases
Presenter: Angelika Starzer
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3882 - Venous Thromboembolism and Intracranial Hemorrhage in Patients with High-grade Glioma
Presenter: Clara Borges
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract