Burnout (BO) among oncology professionals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Meta-analysis of pre–post COVID trends, contributors, and predictive value of single-item screening tool.

Abstract

9010 Background: BO among oncology professionals is prevalent and may have changed following the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a meta-analysis of MENA studies to evaluate temporal trends in overall burnout and subdomains, identify contributing predictors, and assess the screening performance of thought of quitting oncology (TQ). Methods: Ten cross-sectional studies (N = 2,486) reporting Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) outcomes were included: six pre-COVID and four post-COVID. Pooled prevalence estimates were generated for emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), personal accomplishment (PA), and overall BO. Study-level meta-regression evaluated the effects of time period (pre- vs post-COVID), demographics, specialty, and their interaction on observed trends. Performance of TQ was assessed as a screening tool with pooled sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Results: The pooled prevalence of BO was 57.1% (95% CI, 40.6–72.8), increased from 48.2% in the pre-COVID period to 77.2% post-COVID (Δ +29.0 percentage points). High EE increased from 41.3% pre-COVID to 70.9% post-COVID (Δ +29.6 percentage points). DP increased from 36.8% to 55.8% (Δ +19.0 percentage points). Low PA showed minimal change (35.4% pre-COVID vs 35.1% post-COVID; Δ −0.3 percentage points). The heterogeneity estimate was high due to inter-study differences related to time period, setting, and baseline burnout prevalence, which were statistically adjusted for. TQ screening demonstrated reasonable sensitivity (82.4%) and PPV (79.9%), but low specificity (46.5%) and NPV (50.5%). Table 1 shows study-level factors contributing to BO prevalence trends. Conclusions: BO among oncology professionals increased post-COVID in the MENA region. The rise was driven by age-dependent effects plus time period. EE increased uniformly, while DP and low PA showed more complex patterns. A single-item question assessing TQ demonstrated strong rule-in screening utility for identifying clinicians at risk. Meta-regression analysis of study-level moderators of BO prevalence. Outcome Best Predictor(s) R² Pattern EE Period + Age + Med Onc. % 86.2% Additive effects: Post-COVID, younger, more Med Onc. independently increase EE DP None significant 0.0% PA Period × Age 50.4% Moderation: Age moderates pandemic effect on PA Overall Burnout Period × Age 55.3% Moderation: Age moderates pandemic effect on BO