The hidden struggle? Mental health burden among oncology physicians globally.

Abstract

9012 Background: Oncology physicians face demanding clinical workloads, high emotional labor, and frequent exposure to patient loss, contributing to elevated psychological distress. While burnout has been extensively described, anxiety and depression remain under-recognized and stigmatized within the oncology workforce. Methods: A cross-sectional, anonymous, online survey distributed internationally (October–December 2025) assessed indicators aligned to PHQ-9 and GAD-7 constructs, mental-health history, medication use, practice characteristics, and workplace context. Descriptive statistics summarized prevalence; χ²/Fisher’s exact tests compared subgroups; and logistic regression explored independent risk factors for anxiety/depression. Results: Among 209 oncology physicians who completed all mental health-related survey items (Table 1), 28.2% reported anxiety and/or depression. Female physicians had a higher prevalence than male physicians (35.4% vs 22.2%, P = 0.037). Anxiety/depression was higher among Hispanic/Latino vs non-Hispanic White physicians (45.5% vs 29.8%, P = 0.015) and among non-U.S. vs U.S.-based physicians (33.3% vs 25.7%, P = 0.025), though these differences attenuated in adjusted models. Medication use was strongly associated with anxiety/depression. Prevalence of anxiety/depression was rare among physicians who had never considered medication (0.9%), but common among those with past (72.7%) or current (92.9%) medication use (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Nearly one in three oncology physicians reported anxiety and/or depression, consistent with national estimates for physicians generally. Female physicians demonstrated a significantly higher burden and retained an independent risk after adjustment. These findings underscore the need for confidential and accessible mental health care within oncology professional environments and highlight the importance of addressing structural and occupational contributors to psychological distress. If oncology is to remain a sustainable profession, mental health must be treated as a core component of workforce development rather than an individual responsibility. Physicians’ characteristics by anxiety/depression. Variable AllN (%) No Anxiety/ DepressionN (%) Yes Anxiety/ DepressionN (%) P value† Total 209 (100.0) 150 (71.8) 59 (28.2) Sex Female 99 (47.4) 64 (64.6) 35 (35.4) 0.037 Male 108 (51.7) 84 (77.8) 24 (22.2) Race / Ethnicity Non-Hispanic White 84 (40.2) 59 (70.2) 25 (29.8) 0.015 Hispanic/Latino 33 (15.8) 18 (54.5) 15 (45.5) Black 11 (5.3) 11 (100.0) —