Cancer patients and oncology nursing: Perspectives of oncology nurses in Turkey

Development and psychometric evaluation of a tool to assess oncology nurses' occupational health needs

BACKGROUND

Oncology nurses are confronted with various occupational hazards; consequently, it is of great importance to identify and measure their occupational health needs. Due to the fact that standard tools are not available to assess these needs, this study was conducted to develop a tool for assessing oncology nurses' occupational health needs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study consisted of two phases from 2020 to 2021. The first phase was item generation and tool design. The initial development of the item pool was based on the result of the qualitative study and literature search. The second phase was item reduction and psychometric evaluation of the formulated tool including, face, content, and construct validity and reliability. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis and convergent validity with the participation of 300 oncology nurses. The reliability of the tool was assessed using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest (intra-cluster correlation coefficient).

RESULTS

The mean content validity index (CVI) of the tool was 0.95. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that this tool consisted of 69 items and four factors, explaining 65.88% of the variance. The results of the convergent validity assessment showed a significant positive correlation between the mean scores of occupational health needs and occupational stress (P < 0.0001 and r = 0.40). Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.98) and tool stability (0.98) confirmed the appropriate reliability of the tool.

CONCLUSION

The developed tool is recommended as a valid and reliable tool for assessing oncology nurses' occupational health needs that can be used both in practice and in future studies.

Experiences, difficulties and coping methods of female nurses caring for breast cancer surgery patients: A qualitative study

AIM

The present study aims to qualitatively explore the experiences, problems, and coping methods of nurses caring for mastectomy patients.

METHODS

The study employs an exploratory-descriptive design with the participation of 14 nurses serving in a surgical oncology clinic. We gathered the data through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and analyzed the transcriptions of audio recordings using the thematic analysis method. We then extracted relevant codes and subthemes to achieve the main themes. The main themes are presented in three relevant contexts.

RESULTS

Participating nurses' experiences are addressed through the themes of 'emotional difficulties,' 'physical difficulties,' and 'positive awareness.' In addition, their coping methods are considered within the themes of 'coping methods' and 'motivation.' The final context is identified as needs, where the themes of 'organizational needs' and 'psychosocial needs' are explored. Our findings highlighted that although participating nurses usually confront physical and emotional challenges, they exert much effort to develop both positive awareness and engage in behavioral changes. Interestingly, we observed that participants remain ineffective in dealing with and have difficulties employing relevant solutions for professional issues.

CONCLUSION

Overall, even though participating nurses need to deal with the burden of physical and emotional challenges when caring for patients, their coping strategies with these difficulties often remain insufficient. Thus, our humble recommendation may lie in satisfying the organizational and psychosocial needs of surgical nurses to promote their coping skills when fulfilling their demanding tasks with mastectomy patients.

The effect of laughter yoga on perceived stress, burnout, and life satisfaction in nurses during the pandemic: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

A randomized controlled study was conducted on the effects of laughter yoga in reducing the perceived stress and burnout levels in nurses during the pandemic and in increasing their life satisfaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted with 101 (51 in the experimental group, and 50 in the control group) nurses providing care for patients with COVID-19. A total of eight sessions of laughter yoga were applied to the nurses in the experimental group for four weeks, twice a week. The Introductory Information Form, Perceived Stress Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Life Satisfaction Scale were used during data collection.

RESULTS

The difference between the pre- and posttest Perceived Stress Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Life Satisfaction Scale score averages of the nurses in the experimental group were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05), whereas the difference between the pre- and posttest score averages of the nurses in the control group was not significant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Laughter yoga is an effective method to reduce perceived stress and burnout while also increasing life satisfaction.

CLINICALTRIALS

GOV ID

NCT05317091.

Relationship between nurses' professional values, empathy, and patience: A descriptive cross-sectional study

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between the nurses' professional values and their empathy and patience levels, and the factors affecting them.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 215 nurses working at a university hospital between February and April 2021. Data were collected using the "Nurse Information Form," "Nurses' Professional Values Scale," "Patience Scale," and "The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire."

FINDINGS

Results of our study revealed that nurses had high scores for the perception of professional values, empathy levels, and patience levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses had high scores for perceptions of professional values, empathy levels, and patience levels. Nurses' demographic characteristics influenced the scores.

Tıbbi Onkoloji Çalışanlarında Tükenmişlik: Ulusal Gerçeklerle Yüzleşmek

Objectives: This study aimed to reveal the prevalence of burnout syndrome among physicians, nurses and biologists working in oncology clinics in Turkey. Sociodemographic factors affecting burnout were revealed . The adequacy of institutional measures was questioned and their participation in solution proposals was examined. Material and Methods: This cross-sectionally designed study aimed to reach all actively working medical oncology staff in Turkey. 323 of them agreed to participate in the study. Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure the burnout status of the participants. Clinical burnout reduction solutions were also questioned. The burnout prevention questions were prepared. Statistical significance was considered, and all statistical tests were two-sided (p < 0.05). Results: Of 323 participants, 38% were medical oncologists, 58% were nurses and 4% were biologists. The median age was 37±9. According to the MBI subscales, the mean±SD burnout levels of the oncology staff are 19.7±7.8 (high) for EE, 6±4.3 (moderate) for DP and 20.9±5.1 (high) for PA. Respondents under 41 age has higher risk. The participants who are having a hobby, good sleep pattern, making regular exercises has significantly lower burnout scores. Conclusion: Burnout syndrome was detected in more than half of oncology workers. Personal factors such as young age, family type, sleep, exercise and having a hobby affect burnout. preventive measures and interventions are required for health workers

Factors associated with burnout in a multidisciplinary team of an oncology hospital

OBJECTIVE

To identify the factors associated with burnout among professionals of a multidisciplinary team from an oncology hospital.

METHOD

This is a descriptive quantitative study that used a cross-sectional observational design. A sociodemographic, clinical, and professional questionnaire developed by the authors and three items from the Professional Quality of Life Scale were used for data collection. For data analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used. The significance level adopted was 5%.

RESULTS

A total of 442 professionals from the multidisciplinary team participated in the study. Participants showing more factors associated with burnout were those who witnessed a higher number of deaths and conflicts in the workplace, worked the night shift, used medications, and did not have religious beliefs, among others.

CONCLUSION

Although professionals had an average score in the burnout domain, many variables were related to factors associated with burnout, identifying imminent danger to workers and exposing patients and the institution. Strategies should be developed to minimize the risks identified in this study.

Fatores associados ao burnout em equipe multidisciplinar de um hospital oncológico

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar os fatores associados ao burnout em profissionais de equipe multidisciplinar da área de oncologia. Método: Estudo quantitativo do tipo descritivo, com desenho observacional e transversal. Utilizou-se um questionário sociodemográfico, clínico e profissional elaborado pelos autores e três itens do Instrumento de Qualidade de Vida Profissional para coleta de dados. Para análise de dados, foram utilizados os testes de Kruskal-Wallis e Mann-Whitney. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 442 profissionais da equipe multidisciplinar. Os que apresentaram maiores fatores associados ao burnout foram aqueles que presenciaram maior número de óbitos, conflitos no seu ambiente de trabalho, trabalhavam no turno noturno, usavam fármacos enão praticavam a crença religiosa, entre outros. Conclusão: Embora os profissionais apresentassem média pontuação no domínio de burnout, muitas variáveis foram relacionadas aos fatores associados para burnout, identificando perigo iminente ao trabalhador e expondo pacientes e instituição. Faz-se necessário buscar estratégias para minimizar os riscos identificados.

Occupational stressors in oncology nurses: A qualitative descriptive study

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The present study aims at exploring oncology nurses' perceptions regarding work-related stressors.

BACKGROUND

Oncology nurses work in an environment with a high degree of stress, which can negatively affect their health. There is limited research on work-related stressors from the oncology nurses' perspective.

DESIGN

Qualitative descriptive study.

METHODS

Fifty-two oncology nurses were selected purposefully from eight cancer treatment centres in different cities of Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using conventional content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used to document the report of the study.

RESULTS

The extracted contents were classified into four main categories. The first category involved personal ability with two subcategories (person-job fit and psychological competencies). The second category included physical environment arrangements with two subcategories (physical working conditions and equipment and facilities). The third category involved psychosocial safety in the workplace with four subcategories (creating a safe work environment, overcoming the challenges of providing care to cancer patients, work/life balance and social recognition of the nursing status). The fourth category holds an organisational context with four subcategories (organisational support, interpersonal relations, justice at work and human resources).

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to find measures attenuating work-related stresses in oncology nurses. These measures should be in line with developing personal abilities in nurses and creating a safe environment in terms of optimising physical, psychosocial and organisational conditions. It is also important to develop programmes protecting the oncology nurses' occupational health.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The results of this study can help improve nursing work conditions, attenuate work-related stresses in nurses and introduce efficient interventions reducing occupational stressors.

Oncology Nurses' Needs Respecting Healthy Work Environment in Iran: A Descriptive Exploratory Study

Objective:

The work environment of oncology nurses is often unpleasant due to the complexities of cancer treatment and care. Yet, there is limited information about their perspectives on healthy work environment (HWE) and their HWE-related needs. This study aimed to explore oncology nurses' HWE-related needs.

Methods:

This descriptive exploratory qualitative study was conducted in 2018–2019. Participants were 52 nurses and 11 oncology specialists, nursing instructors and managers, and occupational and environmental health experts, who had the experience of promoting nurses' work conditions. They were recruited from eight teaching specialty cancer treatment centers in different cities of Iran (Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, and Babolsar). Data were collected via semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed via conventional content analysis.

Results:

Oncology nurses' HWE-related needs were grouped into the four main categories of physical–structural improvement, mental health improvement in work environment, organizational improvement, and sociocultural improvement.

Conclusions:

A wide range of physical–structural, mental health, organizational, and sociocultural improvements should be made to oncology nurses' work environment in order to fulfill their HWE-related needs. Health-care managers can use the findings of the present study to create HWE for oncology nurses.

Factors contributing to burnout and work-life balance in adult oncology nursing: An integrative review

PURPOSE

Occupational stress and burnout are highlighted as the most prevalent workplace issues for adult oncology nurses. With today's global nursing workforce shortage; coupled with oncology being an inherently challenging and complex speciality, this clearly indicates the need to understand factors that contribute to burnout in adult oncology nurses and improve work-life balance. The aim of this integrative review is to synthesis the evidence on burnout and work-life balance for adult oncology nurses.

METHOD

A systematic search of four databases (CINAHL, Ovid Medline, PsycINFO and Scopus), identified 17 quantitative and three mixed-method studies. Studies were critically appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Following data extraction, a qualitative evidence synthesis utilising an inductive approach was adopted to better understand influential factors, generating analytical themes.

RESULTS

One study had a specific focus on what ameliorates work-life balance for oncology nurses; depicting an area that warrants further study. All studies reported on burnout, of which six analytical themes were further categorised into two broad themes, namely: (1) 'Inability to thrive': struggling with workplace burnout due to organisational challenges and (2) 'Personal perspectives influencing burnout', for adult oncology nurses. Burnout was influenced by multiple oncology-specific factors due to quantitative workload demands and disease acuity. Workplace culture, shift in additional hours being worked remotely and personal characteristics of the nurse, also influenced susceptibility for the development of burnout in oncology nurses.

CONCLUSION

Confronting burnout and promoting wellness are the shared responsibility of both individual adult oncology nurses and their organisations to build resilience and help sustain and build workforce capacity.

Staff Perspectives Toward Challenges in a Newly Established Cancer Center in Tanzania: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE

Cancer is a growing public health concern in low-income countries (LICs). From 14 million new patient cases identified worldwide each year, 8 million are diagnosed in LICs. The fatality rate is 75% in LICs compared with 46% in high-income countries. Causes are low literacy levels, lack of awareness and knowledge about cancer, and limited education of health care professionals that leads to late detection and diagnosis. In Tanzania, cancer incidence will double to 60,000 in 2030. The referral hospital of Northern Tanzania established a new cancer unit in December 2016 to meet these needs. However, there is limited knowledge about perceptions of health care professionals toward cancer care in LICs. This study aims to understand attitudes and perspectives of those professionals and the treatment-related challenges in a newly established center to assist future efforts in this field.

METHODS

A qualitative method approach using in-depth interviews was chosen to achieve inductive conceptualization. Analysis of data was performed according to qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Eleven interviews were conducted. Five main categories were found: training and education of staff, availability of financial support, challenges in management, interests in future developments, and job satisfaction. Subcategories elaborated in more detail within the main categories.

CONCLUSION

Limitations in staffing, training, and education were major concerns. The importance of sustainable funding and the needed cooperation of the government with international aid were identified as key points. The involvement of different stakeholders requires guidance by health care management. Health care professionals expressed their satisfaction with the possibilities of treating cancer and the rewarding feedback from patients. Misconceptions and poor knowledge by patients were mentioned as reasons for delayed health-seeking behavior. Screening and awareness programs were seen as useful interventions.