Routine Oncology Treatment and Its Human Deficits

Working with cancer patients is a highly demanding task. Both, caring for physical, social and spiritual needs of cancer patients as well as an overwhelming bureaucratisation, and technologisation challenge oncologists in a way that may cause mental and physical exhaustion, often-paradoxically-despite high job and specialty satisfaction. This article (i) summarises research findings with a special focus on oncologists' burnout (including factors associated with the phenomffenon), job satisfaction and physical health; (ii) describes potential consequences of burnout and distress, e.g., shortcomings in the physician-patient interaction in oncological treatment settings, financial implications on the health-care system, etc.; and (iii) reviews published data for interventions that may prevent or alleviate oncologists' burnout on an organisational and/or individual level.