Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30506102›Full record

Trial reportSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2019

A prospective intervention to improve happiness and reduce burnout in oncologists.

Mark Clemons, Sasha Mazzarello, Gregory Pond, Eitan Amir, Timothy Asmis, Scott Berry, Muriel Brackstone, Stephanie Brule, Rachel Goodwin, John F Hilton and 8 more

Abstract readClinical Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Mark ClemonsDepartment of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Box 912, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada. mclemons@toh.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0738-2713
Sasha MazzarelloOttawa Hospital Research Institute and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Gregory PondOttawa Hospital Research Institute and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Eitan AmirPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada.
Timothy AsmisDepartment of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Box 912, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Scott BerrySunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Muriel BrackstoneLondon Regional Cancer Program, London, Canada.
Stephanie BruleDepartment of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Box 912, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Rachel GoodwinDepartment of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Box 912, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
John F HiltonDepartment of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Box 912, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Miguel JuliãoEquipa Comunitária de Suporte em Cuidados Paliativos ACES Sintra, Sintra, Portugal.
Garth NicholasDepartment of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Box 912, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
David J StewartDepartment of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Box 912, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Paul Wheatley-PriceDepartment of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Box 912, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
Laurel CholmskyOttawa Hospital Research Institute and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Alison KrentelBruyere Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.
Brian HuttonOttawa Hospital Research Institute and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Anil A JoyDivision of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Canada.
University of Ottawa · CABruyère · CAPrincess Margaret Cancer Centre · CASunnybrook Health Science Centre · CAUniversity of Alberta · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is a paucity of data about effective interventions to improve happiness and reduce burnout in oncologists. Benjamin Franklin developed a 13-week program of "necessary activities" or "virtues" (temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility) to follow, in his attempt at self-improvement. In this pilot study, we explored whether using a modified version of this was associated with any discernable impact on physician happiness, burnout, or compliance with each of the virtues.

methodsSelf-reported happiness (Oxford happiness scores) and burnout (Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory) were completed at baseline (pre-study), week 13, and 1 month after completion of the program. Each day during the 13-week program, oncologists were emailed a list of virtues to focus on and scored how they felt they were complying with them. The oncologist's spouses also assessed how they felt the oncologist was complying with the virtues.

resultsThirteen physicians completed the baseline scores, 11 completed Maslach/Oxford scores at the end of the study, and 8 the 1-month post-study assessment. No significant improvements in happiness and burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment) scores were observed. Statistically significant changes in self-rated virtue scores were observed for temperance (p = 0.046), order (p = 0.049), and resolution (p = 0.014). Additionally, although not reaching statistical significance, 11 of 13 virtues (excepting sincerity and chastity) assessed by spouses indicated a positive change over time.

conclusionIn this hypothesis generating study, daily reflection on personal virtues was not associated with any statistically significant change in happiness or burnout scores. Alternative strategies should be considered.

Indexed as

HappinessJob SatisfactionOncologistsPsychotherapy, PsychodynamicAdultAgedBurnout, ProfessionalBurnout, PsychologicalFatigueFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedPersonalityPersonality InventoryLongitudinal pilot studyPersonal virtuesPhysician burnoutSelf-care

Identifiers

PMID30506102
OpenAlexW2903543957

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.