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CC BY 4.0 · Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2024; 20: s00441791654
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1791654
Original Article
Clinical Oncology

Unveiling the Landscape of Brazilian Clinical Oncologists: Challenges, Diversity, and Quality Care

Sarah Mendes Bezerra 
1   Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, São Paulo, SP,– Brazil.
,
Marisa Riscalla Madi 
1   Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, São Paulo, SP,– Brazil.
,
Aline Lauda Freitas Chaves
1   Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, São Paulo, SP,– Brazil.
,
Maria Ignez Freitas Melro-Braghiroli 
1   Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, São Paulo, SP,– Brazil.
,
Paulo Marcelo Gehm Hoff 
1   Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, São Paulo, SP,– Brazil.
,
Carlos Gil Ferreira 
1   Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, São Paulo, SP,– Brazil.
,
Lucas Pondaco Bonanno 
1   Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, São Paulo, SP,– Brazil.
,
Gustavo Andrade Pimenta Leite 
1   Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica, São Paulo, SP,– Brazil.
› Author Affiliations Funding The authors declare that they did not receive financial support from agencies in the public, private, or non-profit sectors to conduct the present study.
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Abstract

Cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Brazil, with an estimated 704 thousand new cases annually. Clinical oncology, a pivotal specialty in cancer diagnosis and treatment, has evolved since its formal establishment in 1946. Recent recognition by the Brazilian Federal Board of Medicine solidified its status, culminating in normative resolution nr. 2,162/2017. The present study aims to characterize Brazilian clinical oncologists and analyze their epidemiological and structural contexts using data from the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology's 2023 census and secondary sources, including the National Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional de Câncer [INCA], in Portuguese) and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica [IBGE], in Portuguese). A cross-sectional design employing qualitative-quantitative methods surveyed 761 clinical oncologists, revealing insights into demographics, workload, stress levels, and challenges. The results highlight regional disparities in cancer mortality rates despite the concentration of oncology services in the South and Southeast. Challenges include access to new treatments, late diagnoses, and systemic underfunding. Moreover, this study underscores gender and racial disparities within the specialty, indicating a predominantly white and heterosexual profile among practitioners. Addressing these issues is crucial for enhancing healthcare equity and improving patients' outcomes in oncology practice.

Keywords

censuses - workforce - medical oncology

Authors' Contributions

SMB, MRM, ALFC: Conception and design, data analysis and interpretation, final approval of manuscript, writing of the manuscript, and provision of study materials or patient; MIFMB, PMGH: Conception and design and provision of study materials or patient; CGF: Provision of study materials or patient; LPB: Collection and assembly of data, conception and design, data analysis and interpretation, and final approval of the manuscript; GAPL: Conception and design, data analysis and interpretation, final approval of the manuscript, and writing of the manuscript.


Clinical Trials

None.




Publication History

Received: 19 June 2024

Accepted: 28 August 2024

Article published online:
22 October 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Bibliographical Record
Sarah Mendes Bezerra, Marisa Riscalla Madi, Aline Lauda Freitas Chaves, Maria Ignez Freitas Melro-Braghiroli, Paulo Marcelo Gehm Hoff, Carlos Gil Ferreira, Lucas Pondaco Bonanno, Gustavo Andrade Pimenta Leite. Unveiling the Landscape of Brazilian Clinical Oncologists: Challenges, Diversity, and Quality Care. Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2024; 20: s00441791654.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1791654
 

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