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- Bethany Maynard (Southampton, United Kingdom)
Building resilience among young cancer nurses
- Nikolina Dodlek (Osijek, Croatia)
Supporting young cancer nurses academically
- Remziye Semerci (Edirne, Turkey)
Career progression among young cancer nurses
- Bethany Maynard (Southampton, United Kingdom)
CN41 - Comparison of professional quality of life, empathy and emotional intelligence in cancer health care professionals: A study of cancer nurses, radiation therapists and oncologists
- Patricia Hunt (Waterford, Ireland)
Abstract
Background
Professional Quality of Life, that is compassion satisfaction (CS) and compassion fatigue (CF), is experienced by cancer health care professionals (HCP) as they are exposed to the distress and suffering of patients with cancer. Cancer HCPs use both emotional and cognitive empathy and aspects of emotional intelligence in their interactions with patients. This study was the first to examine the relationships between professional quality of life, empathy and emotional intelligence, and compare these constructs between cancer nurses, radiation therapists and oncologists.
Methods
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine relationships between professional quality of life, empathy and trait emotional intelligence in cancer HCPs, and identify differences between nurses, radiation therapists and oncologists. Data collection involved a survey (
Results
The results revealed that levels of the CF subscale of secondary traumatic stress (STS) experienced by cancer HCPs were high (28%). High levels of emotional empathy were negatively correlated with CS and positively correlated with CF, whereas high levels of cognitive empathy were positively correlated with CS. High levels of trait emotional intelligence were positively correlated with CS and cognitive empathy, and negatively correlated with CF and emotional empathy. A difference in burnout levels, and levels of the emotional intelligence domain of self-control between the professions reached statistical significance.
Conclusions
Recommendations include the need for national policy to take into consideration the impact of working with cancer patients on STS levels of cancer HCPs in work-force planning. Additionally, clinicians and educators need to implement empathy and well-being strategies into practice and education initiatives, whilst considering specific professionals and demographics. These recommendations could assist in improving cancer health care professional’s professional quality of life.
Legal entity responsible for the study
P. Hunt.
Funding
CARE Collaboration.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
CN42 - The impact of an education WhatsApp group to support nurses working in an acute oncology/haematology setting during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Róisín G Lawless (Dublin, Ireland)
Abstract
Background
Finding time and space to explore and disseminate the latest advances in nursing and cancer care, patient supports and promotion of self-care for nurses working in an acute oncology/haematology setting was proving challenging prior to the pandemic and became essential during the pandemic. A nurse education WhatsApp group was created in October 2019 to ascertain if this mode of social media would be acceptable and of benefit as a communication tool in addressing some of these challenges. All registered nurses irrespective of experience were invited to join. A diverse selection of information was uploaded twice weekly mainly by the nurse oncology education coordinator. Participation was voluntary. Members were asked to use the group solely for education purposes.
Methods
Data on the impact of the WhatsApp group was collected anonymously from November 2020 to May 2022 using a web based survey containing ten questions to collect both quantitative and qualitative data.
Results
With a 54% response rate, 100% of respondents believed this mode of social media was an acceptable tool. 73% believed it an effective tool, 27% found it somewhat effective. 98% believed it had informed their practice. Suggestions were made by respondents to further enhance the effectiveness of this tool including themes to disseminate information. Examples of nurses’ experience of having this WhatsApp group facilitated during the Covid 19 pandemic included
Conclusions
The results of this survey suggest the use of WhatsApp as an educational tool to communicate information on a diverse variety of topics can be an effective and positive experience in providing educational and emotional support to oncology nurses during the Covid 19 pandemic.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
CN40 - Nurses’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: Multicenter mixed-methods study of coping and resilience strategies
- Lucia Cadorin (Aviano, Italy)
Abstract
Background
Oncology nurses have faced many challenges and sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic, often hidden behind the need to protect very fragile patients. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the resilience and coping strategies of nurses working in the oncology setting.
Methods
A multicenter, sequential, explanatory mixed-methods study was conducted, in which quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed sequentially and individually. Nurses in two Oncology Departments in Northeast Italy were enrolled from May to October 2021. The Italian versions of the CD-RISK and COPE-NIV-25 questionnaires were mailed to 276 nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and data were collected through an electronic procedure (REDCap). The COPE-NIV-25 questionnaire was standardized on a 0-100 scale. Semi-structured interviews with purposeful sampling until saturation were conducted in the qualitative study. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and the Colaizzi framework (1978) was used for content analysis.
Results
164 nurses responded to the questionnaires (response rate 59%) and 15 were interviewed for the qualitative study. The mean CD-RISK score was 93.5 (SD: 12.9), and was significantly higher in nurses with a Master’s or PhD degree (98.7 ±11.4). Analysis of the COPE-NIV-25 subscales revealed good strategies for problem orientation (78.3±11.8), social support (70.1±13.9), and positive attitude (77.4 ±12.5), while the mean values were low for transcendent orientation (46.8±27.8) and avoidance strategies (33.3±12.2). The analysis of nurses’ interviews highlighted the way participants experienced coping and resilience strategies, and the following themes emerged: changing; feelings/emotions; professionalism and nursing responsibilities; strategies; teamwork, and learning needs.
Conclusions
The investigation of nurses’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique opportunity to understand their resilience and coping strategies. This study provides relevant information to plan support for oncology nurses to help them maintain their coping strategies and resilience during long lasting emergencies.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
CN26 - Nurses caring for patients at the end of life report affected psychosocial work environment when relocated during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
- Cecilia Olsson (Karlstad, Sweden)
Abstract
Background
Key predictors of distress for healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic include working long hours, lack of support, feelings of vulnerability or loss of control, and concerns about health of oneself and one’s family. In this Scandinavian study we explore psychosocial work environment in geriatric, medicine, surgery, oncology and intensive care units at hospitals, palliative care units and nursing homes with focus on end-of-life care. The aim was to explore how relocation during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on self-reported psychosocial work environment among registered nurses and assistant nurses in Sweden and Norway when caring for seriously ill patients.
Methods
This is a part of a survey study during autumn 2021 regarding healthcare professionals’ (n=808) psychosocial work environment, occupational self-efficacy, own health and palliative care quality. We will present results from the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire III by univariate analyzes of variance and t-tests.
Results
Out of 743 nurses were 111 relocated. Relocation impacted negatively (statistically significant) on the subscales social support from managers, social support from colleagues and insecurity of working conditions, as well as self-rated health and stress. This was most prominent common among registered nurses. Compared to Swedish reference values the participants scored statistically significant lower values within these subscales.
Conclusions
This study highlight the importance of a health care organisation where managers take responsibility and support the employees’ psychosocial work environment. This is especially important during extraordinary event such as a pandemic to prevent burnout and achieve high-quality palliative care.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
AFA försäkring, Sweden.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Q&A and discussion
- All Speakers (Lugano, Switzerland)