Cancer surgeons' distress and well-being

There are two recent articles in the Ann Surg Oncol titled, "Cancer surgeons' distress and well-being." Some interesting findings regarding career-related stress, coping mechanisms, and work-life balance.

Cancer surgeons' distress and well-being, I: the tension between a culture of productivity and the need for self-care.

Among the 72 surgeons who responded (response rate of 73%), we found that 42% of surgeons reported burnout and 27% psychiatric levels of distress, while 30% used alcohol and 13% used sleep medications as a possible means to cope. Only one third of surgeons reported high quality of life across physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual domains.

Cancer surgeons' distress and well-being, II: modifiable factors and the potential for organizational interventions.

Among the 72 surgeons who responded (response rate of 73%), surgeons identified high stress from medical lawsuits, pressure to succeed in research, financial worries, negative attitudes to gender, and ability to cope with patients' suffering and death. Workplace features requiring greatest change were the reimbursement system, administrative support, and schedule. Work-life balance and relationship issues with spouse or partner caused high stress. Strongest correlations with distress were a desire to change communication with patients and the tension between the time devoted to work versus time available to be with family. Surgeons' preferences for interventions favored a fitness program, nutrition consultation, and increased socialization with colleagues, with less interest in interventions conventionally used to address psychological distress.

Featured physician executive: Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach

This week, I wanted to feature a physician executive who is a graduate of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. Why SJU? Because I'm currently enrolled in an MBA program at SJU.

This week's featured physician executive is Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach.

Andrew C. von Eschenbach (born October 30, 1941 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was the Commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration from 2006–2009. He became acting Commissioner on September 26, 2005, after the resignation of his predecessor Lester Crawford, and was confirmed as Commissioner by the Senate on December 7, 2006. He was previously the 12th director of the National Cancer Institute.

School of pharmaceutical and biotech business in oncology

It's hard to believe that October is right around the corner. The fall is a busy time for me when I do a bit of traveling for work-related meetings, conferences, etc. Here's a meeting that I thought would be interesting to you (I won't be there, but perhaps you may wish to attend). This falls into the category of "executive education." You won't get a degree, but you'll gain some valuable insights. 

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Academy for Excellence and Leadership in Oncology™ School of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Business.

Here's some information from their e-mail and website:

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology professionals are given the rare opportunity to view the oncology space, its future and its current operational issues from the provider and payer perspective. Participants will improve their working knowledge of key business, policy, coverage, reimbursement, informational, and operational issues in oncology and will gather valuable insights material to developing effective strategies for navigating the various constituencies in cancer care. Through this interactive program, pharma and biotech professionals will learn from key stakeholders what they view to be the most pressing issues in oncology today and how to apply this knowledge to create mutually-successful working relationships.

Pharmaceutical and biotech industry professionals will:

• improve their working knowledge of key business, policy, coverage, reimbursement, informational, and operational issues in oncology
• gather valuable insights material to developing effective strategies for navigating the various constituencies in cancer care
• learn from key stakeholders what they view to be the most pressing issues in oncology today and how to apply this knowledge to create mutually-successful working relationships
• be better able to serve your customers with improved knowledge of real-world oncology issues

This program is specifically designed for experienced pharmaceutical and biotech industry professionals from marketing, sales, medical affairs, clinical research, policy and government affairs, and other business areas within the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

This program is next month (October 14-15) in Chicago, IL. To learn more and to enroll, click here.

Non-Clinical Opportunities in Oncology

I find that many executive recruiters are looking for physicians and other healthcare professionals who have expertise in oncology. Why? Because so much is happening in the world of oncology research. Think about all that has happened in the last few years! We've seen new biologics (targeted therapies), genetic tests, assays for oncogenes and tumor markers, novel mechanisms to detect residual disease (like circulating tumor cells), and much more! Oncology is truly an exciting area right now, especially because this is where technology and medicine are colliding to improve patient care. I encourage you to also read this: Novel Cancer Biomarkers, Oncogenes, and Targeted Therapies

A Video Game Improves Behavioral Outcomes in Patients With Cancer

A Video Game Improves Behavioral Outcomes in Patients With Cancer. Researchers at Stanford University published a recent article in Pediatrics.

OBJECTIVE. Suboptimal adherence to self-administered medications is a common problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a video-game intervention for improving adherence and other behavioral outcomes for adolescents and young adults with malignancies including acute leukemia, lymphoma, and soft-tissue sarcoma.

CONCLUSIONS. The video-game intervention significantly improved treatment adherence and indicators of cancer-related self-efficacy and knowledge in adolescents and young adults who were undergoing cancer therapy. The findings support current efforts to develop effective video-game interventions for education and training in health care.

PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 2 August 2008, pp. e305-e317