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Radiation oncologists in 2000: demographic, professional, and practice characteristics
Yasmin Cypel1, Jonathan H Sunshine, Barbara Schepps
1Research Department, American College of Radiology, 1891 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 20191, USA. yasminc@acr.org
Purpose:
To describe the demographic, professional, and practice characteristics of radiation oncologists, emphasizing comparisons to data from a similar 1995 Survey.
Methods And Materials:
In spring 2000, we surveyed 603 randomly selected radiation oncologists by mail, using a one-page questionnaire-455 responded. We weighted responses to make answers representative of all radiation oncologists in the United States.
Results:
Approximately 45% of post-training, professionally active, radiation oncologists were <45 years old and 22% were women. Forty-two percent of radiation oncologists in training were women. Thirty-three percent of radiation-oncology-only practices were solo practices. The greatest percentage of post-training, professionally active, radiation oncologists were in nonacademic private radiation oncology practices. Fifty-three percent of post-training, professionally active, radiation oncologists reported that their workload was about right. Eighteen percent of individuals 60-64 years old and approximately two-thirds of those > or =65 years old were not working (retired). The full-time equivalency of those aged 55-74 fell by 12 percentage points between 1995 and 2000.
Conclusions:
Most demographic, professional, and practice characteristics remained relatively constant between 1995 and 2000, with the exception of work status patterns. Radiation oncologists reported a more balanced workload than that reported by diagnostic radiologists. The surplus of radiation oncologists, which was predicted in the mid-1990s, was not demonstrated.