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Factors Associated With Work Stress and Professional Satisfaction in Oncology Staff

Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada

Bruce Pierce, MA

St. Luke's Home, Mahon, Cork, Ireland

Clement Ma, MSc

Department of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada

Tony Panzarella, MSc

Department of Biostatistics Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada

Gary Rodin, MD

Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Camilla Zimmermann, MD, MSc

Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada, camilla.zimmermann{at}uhn.on.ca

Cancer care professionals work in a stressful environment, but it is not clear what factors contribute to this stress. We surveyed 60 oncology personnel on an inpatient unit and a palliative care unit regarding levels of perceived work stress and its potential contributors. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of staff stress. A total of 63% of staff reported experiencing ``a great deal'' of stress at work, which was predicted by greater perceived workload (odds ratio = 32.2; P < .0001), insufficient time to grieve patients' death (odds ratio = 9.75; P = .0007), lack of institutional support (odds ratio = 0.16; P = .009), perceived lack of resources (odds ratio = 0.06; P = .007), and lack of control over the choice of workplace (odds ratio = 0.10; P = .03). Measures to address work-related stress should be included in the planning of cancer programs.

Key Words: staff stress • professional satisfaction • palliative care unit

This version was published on April 1, 2009

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Vol. 26, No. 2, 105-111 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1049909108330027


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