Risk of burnout, psychological growth, longevity of career and making sense of Covid‐19 in senior Australian radiation oncologists

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Senior radiation oncologists in hospital/organisational settings, are repetitively and vicariously exposed to others' traumatic distress‐perpetuating risk of burnout. Little is known of the additional organisational burdens of the Covid‐19 pandemic on their mental well‐being for career longevity. Methods Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, semi‐structured interviews provided positive and negative subjective interpreted data from five senior Australian radiation oncologists during Covid‐19 lockdowns. Results One superordinate theme, Vicarious risk, hierarchical invalidation, redefining altruistic authenticity, overarched four subordinate themes: (1) Vicarious contamination of caring, (2) The hierarchical squeeze, (3) The heavy burden of me and (4) Growth of authenticity. For these participants, juxtaposed challenges to career longevity and mental well‐being were ‘self’ as empathic carer to vulnerable patients, and ever‐increasing burdens of the organisation. Sensing invalidation, they experienced periods of exhaustion and disengagement. However, with experience and seniority, self‐care was prioritised and nurtured through intrapersonal honesty, altruism and relational connectedness with patients and mentoring forward junior colleagues. Focusing on mutual well‐being, a sense of life beyond radiation oncology became acceptable. Conclusions For these participants, self‐care became a relational joining with their patients separate from the lack of systemic support which heralded an early termination to their career for psychological well‐being and authenticity.

Keywords

• altruistic integrity
• Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
• psychological well‐being
• radiation oncologists
• vicarious trauma