OCCUPATIONAL STRESS IN PALLIATIVE CARE IN ONCOLOGY

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to identify signs of occupational stress in nursing professionals that provide palliative care to patients with cancer. It is a descriptive and cross-sectional investigation that examined 105 nurses and nursing technicians from a hospital focused on palliative care in oncology in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data collection was carried out through the application of a questionnaire related to sociodemographic variables and the Work Stress Scale and took place from April to July 2015. Fifty-eight percent (n = 61) of the professionals presented a low level of occupational stress, 41% (n = 43) reported a moderate intensity of stress and 0.9% or one participant declared to experience a high degree of stress. The variables related to stress were age and time of professional training. The outcomes suggest that, despite being exposed to stressful factors such as pain, suffering, and death, the studied professionals use effective coping strategies to reduce stress perception.

Keywords

• Medical oncology
• Oncology nursing
• Palliative care
• Psychological stress
• Occupational health