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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.
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BACKGROUND: Although the work environment of oncology nurses is highly complex and challenging, their occupational health needs are scarcely studied. This study aimed to explore the occupational health needs of oncology nurses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in 2018-2019. The participants consisted of 52 oncology nurses and 11 other key informants. They were chosen from eight cancer treatment centers in different cities of Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and analyzed using conventional content analysis. RESULTS: The occupational health needs of oncology nurses were grouped into three main categories included needs for self-care, development of professional competency, and a safe and healthy work environment. CONCLUSION: The work environment of oncology nurses needs to be optimized in terms of physical, psychological, organizational, and sociocultural conditions. Furthermore, the necessary measures should be taken to encourage oncology nurses to implement self-care, thus creating the preparedness to face the challenges of the workplace by developing their professional competencies.
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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.
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Nurse Clinicians , Nursing Staff, Hospital , Occupational Stress , Humans , Oncology Nursing , Qualitative Research , Work-Life Balance , WorkplaceABSTRACT
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.
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BACKGROUND: Empathy is an important component of the nurse-client relationship and nursing care. The current study aimed to compare nurses' level of empathy with patients in critical care units, psychiatric, and emergency wards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 112 nurses selected by convenience sampling in three educational hospitals affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran from June to September 2017. Data collection tool was a two-part questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data (such as age, gender, and work experience) and Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) containing 20 items, scored according to Likert scale from totally agree (7 points) to totally disagree (1 point). In total, the maximum score was 140 and the minimum score was 20. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 as well as descriptive and analytical statistical tests (multiple regression). RESULTS: The mean (SD) empathy score of nurses working in critical care units, emergency, and psychiatric wards was 87.51 (6.65), 87.59 (4.90), and 90.71 (7.12), respectively. Regarding the regression models, it was observed that only the work experience was a significant predictor for empathy (ß = 0.19, p = 0.04). This model predicted 3.50% of variances in the nurses' empathy. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses' level of empathy in this study was above average with equal scores in different wards. Therefore, increasing the nurses' level of empathy is essential in interventional studies.
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BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs with a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, yet there is not a conclusive cure for this disease. Complementary medicine is a current treatment which seems is effective in relieving symptoms of patients with MS. Therefore, this study is aimed to determine and compare the effects of reflexology and relaxation on anxiety, stress, and depression in women with MS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study is a randomized clinical trial that is done on 75 women with MS referred to MS Clinic of Kashani Hospital. After simple non random sampling, participants were randomly assigned by minimization method to three groups: reflexology, relaxation and control (25 patients in each group). In the experimental groups were performed reflexology and relaxation interventions within 4 weeks, twice a week for 40 min and the control group were received only routine treatment as directed by a doctor. Data were collected through depression anxiety and stress scale questionnaire, before, immediately after and 2 months after interventions in all three groups. Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, repeated measures analysis of variance and one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference post hoc test via SPSS version 18 were used to analyze the data (P < 0.05) was considered as significant level. RESULTS: The results showed a significant reduction in the severity of anxiety, stress and depression during the different times in the reflexology and relaxation groups as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results showed that reflexology and relaxation in relieving anxiety, stress and depression are effective in women with MS. Hence, these two methods, as effective techniques, can be recommended.
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BACKGROUND: Pain is a common and significant symptom in many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The presence and severity of pain in individuals with MS has also been shown to be associated with higher levels of depression, functional impairment, and fatigue. It is common for MS patients and their caregivers to worry about narcotic addiction in the management of chronic pain. Therefore, this study aimed to determine and compare the effects of reflexology and relaxation on pain in women suffering from MS. METHODS: This study was a single-blind randomized clinical trial performed on 75 patients with MS referred to the MS Clinic of Ayatollah Kashani Hospital (Isfahan, Iran). After simple non-random sampling, using the minimization method, participants were randomly assigned to the three groups of reflexology, relaxation, and control. In the experimental groups, foot reflexology and relaxation interventions (Jacobson and Benson) were performed within 4 weeks, twice a week for 40 min. The control group received routine care and medical treatment as directed by a doctor. Data were collected using the Numerical Rating Scale before, immediately after, and 2 months after interventions in all three groups. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 18 and descriptive and inferential statistical tests. RESULTS: Findings obtained from analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant differences between mean pain intensity scores in the three groups preintervention and 2 months after interventions (p > 0.05). However, this difference was statistically significant immediately after the study (p < 0.05). Findings obtained from repeated measures ANOVA showed that the severity of pain significantly differed during different times in reflexology and relaxation (p < 0.05); however, this difference was not significant in the control group (p > 0.05). Furthermore, Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) revealed a significantly higher reduction in pain intensity scores in the reflexology group after the intervention, compared with the two other groups, but showed no significant differences between relaxation and control groups. There were no significant differences between the three groups 2 months after the interventions (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that both interventions are effective on relieving pain in women with MS; however, it appears that the effect of reflexology on pain reduction is greater than that of relaxation. Hence, these two methods can be recommended as effective techniques.
