Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36210226›Full record

ArticleSeminars in oncology2022

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Wellbeing of International Oncology and Hematology Fellows at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center (PMCC).

Carlos E Stecca, Marie Alt, Di Maria Jiang, Glaucia Michelis, Nazanin Fallah-Rad, Sharlene Gill, Mary Elliot, Srikala S Sridhar

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Seminars in oncology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.1field-weighted citation impact, top 53% 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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. The Wellbeing of the Haematology Workforce in the UK.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2025
    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

8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Carlos E SteccaDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Marie AltDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Di Maria JiangDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Glaucia MichelisDepartment of Psychiatry Instituto de Psiquiatria, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
Nazanin Fallah-RadDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Sharlene GillBC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Mary ElliotDivision of Psychiatry, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Srikala S SridharDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: srikala.sridhar@uhn.ca.
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre · CABC Cancer Agency · CAClínica de Psiquiatria Psiquimei · BR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant disruptions across all levels of medical training. International fellows in subspecialty training programs are essential members of the frontline physician workforce, but may face additional and unique challenges as a result of being away from their home country. In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of international fellows in the Hematology and/or Oncology fellowship program at the PMCC.

methodsIn collaboration with our staff psychiatrist, we conducted an online survey of hematology and/or oncology fellows at the PMCC from July 6 to August 10, 2020. The survey consisted of 60 questions divided into 4 sections: demographics, wellbeing assessment using the validated Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS), fellowship specific questions (personal and professional) and coping strategies using the validated brief COPE scale.

resultsOverall 24/52 (46%) fellows completed the survey: 21/24 were international fellows with 48% from Asia, 3/24 were Canadian fellows but away from home; 54% were male; 48% were aged 31-35 years; 65% were married, 48% had children. Mean SWEMWBS score was 21, indicating lower overall wellbeing than the general population who had a score of 23.6. Compared to their pre-COVID status, many reported a decline in their wellbeing (63%), sense of guilt for not being with their family (45%) or helping their country (41%), stress in personal relationships (26%), fatigue (50%), sleep disorders (38%) and loss of interest in daily activities (38%). Personal events were altered by almost 80%; and 20% planned to extend their fellowship. According to the Brief-COPE scale, during the pandemic, most fellows used more adaptive coping mechanisms (mean score 39.2) as opposed to maladaptive ones (mean score 21.8).

conclusionsThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the overall wellbeing of international fellows. Understanding the specific challenges and coping mechanisms used by international fellows may help institutions develop better targeted strategies to promote wellbeing, professional development and ensure high-quality patient care during unprecedented times like the COVID pandemic.

Indexed as

COVID-19HematologyNeoplasmsCanadaChildEducation, Medical, GraduateFemaleHumansMalePandemicsCOVID-19FellowshipHematologyOncologyWellbeing

Identifiers

PMID36210226
PMCPMC9452400
OpenAlexW4295102979

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.