An intervention to manage compassion fatigue in oncology nurses in Durban, South Africa

Background: Oncology nurses are involved through the often protracted and potentially traumatic continuum of diagnosis and treatment of their patients, which places them at high risk of developing compassion fatigue. Aim: The aim of the study was to develop and implement an in-facility intervention to manage compassion fatigue among oncology nurses in Durban, South Africa. Setting: The study was conducted with oncology nurses at state, private (private health insurance) and non-governmental oncology facilities (Hospice). Methods: The Self-Care Intervention for Oncology Nurses was developed and implemented using action research with a mixed methods sequential explanatory design. It involved an integrative review, Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) v 5 questionnaires (n = 83) and indepth individual interviews (n = 8). Results: Developed from the findings of the integrative review, quantitative and qualitative data, the Self-Care Intervention for Oncology Nurses comprised three components, namely psycho-education on risks (booklet), practices of remembrance (remembrance tree) and support structures (support group and follow-up family call). Overall, the participants enjoyed reading the booklet and engaging in the support group. There were varied responses to the remembrance tree and hesitancy to partaking in the follow-up phone call. Conclusion: The developed intervention could encourage awareness of compassion fatigue amongst oncology nurses' engagement in self-care practices such as symbolic remembrance of patients and recognition of the value of support structures. Contribution: The intervention may assist oncology nurses in the provision of compassionate caring for their patients and potentially minimise compassion fatigue

Attitudes and beliefs and its influencing factors of oncology nurses toward sexuality care / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To explore oncology nurses′attitudes and beliefs and its influencing factors toward sexuality care. Methods A total of 208 oncology nurses were investigated by convenience sampling method. The nurses were investigated with the Sexuality Attitudes and Beliefs Survey Scale and the Literacy of Sexual Health Care Scale. Results The total score of attitudes and beliefs of oncology nurses toward sexuality care was (44.88 ± 11.45). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that age, sexual health education and training experience, knowledge of sexual health care and efficacy of sexual health care were the influencing factors of SABS. A total of 41.2％variance was explained. Conclusions We should strengthen the training of oncology nurses about sexuality care to reduce the barriers of sexual health education in clinical work and help nursesform the right attitudes and beliefs of health care so that they can provide patients with better care.

Correlation between perceived professional benefits and innovation behavior of oncology nurses / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To explore and understand the influence of perceived professional benefits on oncology nurses′innovative behaviors. Methods Totally 943oncology nurses were selected to join thestudy, Using the general information questionnaire, nurses′ perceived professional benefits scale and innovative behaviors scale for investigation. Results The average score of oncology nurses′ perceived Professional Benefits Scale was (114.08 ± 16.45) points, the average score of oncology nurses′ innovative behaviors was (31.00 ± 7.00) points. The score of perceived professional benefits of oncology nurses was positively correlated with score of innovative behavior of nurses (r=0.472, P<0.01). Nurses position, level and relatives and friends identity,their own growth and team belonging in perceived professional benefits were the influencing factors of innovative behavior of oncology nurses (t=2.022-4.486, P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusion The perceived professional benefits of oncology nurses can play a positive role in promoting their innovative behaviors. Nursing managers should pay attention to improving perceived professional benefits of clinical nurses, promote their innovative behaviors and improve the quality of nursing services.

Relation of mindfulness to personality traits and psychological distress among oncology nurses / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To examine the potential mediating effect of mindfulness on personality traits and psychological distress.Methods:A total of 172 oncology nurses [mean age(32 ±7) years] in Shandong Province were selected.They were assessed with Big Five Inventory (BFI),Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) for the evaluation of personality traits,mindfulness and psychological distress.Bootstrap was used to test the mediating effect.Results:The mean score of K10 was (22.3 ±6.5) among oncology nurses,and 50.6％ of them had psychological distress problems.The K10 scores were negatively correlated with the scores of extroversion,agreeableness,conscientiousness and MAAS scores (r =-0.29,-0.31,-0.31,-0.48,Ps ＜ 0.01),and the K10 scores were positively correlated with neuroticism scores (r =0.40,P ＜0.01).The confidence interval from Bootstrap output indicated mindfulness played a partial mediating role between neuroticism and psychological distress (95％ CI:0.05-0.28),the value of mediating effect was 27.1％.Conclusion:The relation of mindfulness to personality traits and psychological distress among oncology nurses are intimate.Mindfulness could mediate the relationship between neuroticism and psychological distress.

Condições de trabalho e saúde dos enfermeiros em oncologia / Health and work conditions of the oncology nursing professionals

O presente estudo teve como objeto as condições de trabalho e a saúde dos enfermeiros no contexto organizacional de uma instituição oncológica. A minha experiência profissional em oncologia em uma Instituição, referência em oncologia clínica e cirúrgica, que desenvolve ações no âmbito assistencial, de ensino e pesquisa, possibilitou-me observar o processo de trabalho dos enfermeiros. Verifiquei a incidência freqüente de licenças médicas para tratamento da saúde e a ocorrência de transtornos de ordem física e mental relacionados ao estresse, trabalho em turnos, sobrecarga de trabalho por déficit de recursos humanos, além das dificuldades do enfermeiro em lidar com situações adversas relacionadas ao tratamento de clientes oncológicos. Trata-se de um estudo não experimental, de caráter descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa e aporte qualitativo. Este estudo possibilitou identificar os fatores de risco no trabalho a que estavam expostos os enfermeiros oncológicos, descrevendo as condições do ambiente de trabalho e a percepção dos enfermeiros sobre os problemas de saúde que foram provocados ou agravados pelo trabalho. Concluiu-se que as condições de trabalho podem interferir diretamente na saúde desses profissionais, haja vista que o problemas de saúde apontados pelos enfermeiros estão intimamente ligados ao cuidado realizado por estes profissionais. Dos problemas provocados pelo trabalho, destacam-se: lesão por material pérfuro-cortante (67%), estresse (52%), mudanças de humor (50%), doenças de pele (46%) dores lombares (45%) e depressão (33%)...

The present study it had as object the conditions of work and the health of the nurses in the context of a oncology institution. My professional experience in oncology in an Institution, reference in clinical and surgical oncology, that develops action in the care scope, of education and research, made possible to observe me the process of work of the nurses, verified the frequent incidence of medical licenses for treatment of the health and the occurrence of related upheavals of physical and mental order to stress it, work in turns, overload of work for deficit of human resources, beyond the difficulties of the nurse in dealing with related adverse situations to the treatment of oncológicos customers. One is about a not experimental study, of descriptive character, with quantitative boarding and arrives in port qualitative. This study work made possible to identify to the factors of risk no the one that were displayed the oncology nurses, describing the conditions do surrounding of dos work and the perception nurses on the health problems that had been provoked or aggravated of work. It was concluded that the work conditions can intervene directly with the health of these professionals, has since the problems of health pointed by the nurses are closely on to the care carried through for these professionals. Of the problems provoked for the work, they are distinguished: Injury for drill-cutting material (67%), stress (52%), mood changes (50%), skin illnesses (46%) lumbar pains (45%)e depression (33%)...

A Comparison on the Tobacco Control Intervention, Barriers, and Facilitators between Oncology Nurses and General Nurses in Clinical Practice / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to 1) find out the frequency of tobacco control intervention, barriers, and facilitators. 2) compare the differences in tobacco control intervention, barriers, and facilitators between oncology nurses and general nurses. METHOD: A sample was composed of 96 oncology nurses and 284 general nurses. The survey questionnaire was mailed out to nurses who were working at the randomly selected hospitals throughout the country. The questionnaire was adopted from the study of national survey on oncology nurse's tobacco interventions in United States by Sarnar, et al.(2000). RESULTS: Oncology nurses were found to provide tobacco control interventions more frequently comparing to the general nurses. "Patient not motivated to quit smoking", "Lack of time", "Lack of recognition/ rewards", were the most commonly identified barriers. "Patient wants to quit", "Adequate time", "Confidence in ability help people to stop smoking", were the most commonly identified facilitators. CONCLUSIONS: Although oncology nurses are in an important position in delivering tobacco interventions and providing resources, their participation in consistent delivery of a tobacco control intervention was less than desirable. To help nurses participate in the assessment of tobacco use and interventions for cessation, the development of educational program is necessary.