6533b833fe1ef96bd129b942

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Well-being among Italian medical oncologists: An exploratory study

Antonio RussoRossella De LucaGiuseppe CiceroAlba CivilleriGiuseppe BronteJ DispenzaSalvatore VieniR GuarneriLo CascioVFrancesca Paola GuadagnaElena FoddaiFrancesco Pace

subject

AdultMaleQuality of lifeCancer Researchmedicine.medical_specialtySettore MED/06 - Oncologia MedicaeducationWell-beingExploratory researchMedical OncologyQuality of life (healthcare)Social skillsPhysiciansSurveys and QuestionnairesmedicineHumansPsychologySettore M-PSI/06 - Psicologia Del Lavoro E Delle OrganizzazioniPractice Patterns Physicians'AgedDescriptive statisticsbusiness.industryWork engagementMultilevel modelGeneral MedicineMiddle AgedOncologyItalyPhysicianFamily medicineWell-beingOncologistFemalebusinessPerceived organizational supportStress PsychologicalOncologists; Physicians; Psychology; Quality of life; Well-being

description

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Recently, attention has been focused on physicians' stress and quality-of-life improvement. Due to their relationship with patients, oncologists in particular are overloaded physically, emotionally and psychologically. Previous studies showed that training of communication skills improves the satisfaction and well-being of physicians and patients. <b><i>Aims:</i></b> Our research investigates the relationship between work stress and engagement and personal well-being in physicians working in Italian hospitals. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> 176 physicians were included. Doctors filled out self-report questionnaires to evaluate work stress and coping strategies, personal well-being<i>, </i>work engagement and two purpose-built scales to measure the degree of perceived organizational support and the level of specific training of social and relational skills. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data, as well as correlation analysis (Pearson's r), hierarchical regression analysis (enter step) and analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA). <b><i>Result:</i></b> Positive and significant correlations were found between variables. Moreover, physicians who obtained higher levels of specific training on social and relational skills reported lower levels of stress. Oncologists experienced greater stress than other physicians in terms of maladaptive coping and lack of additional training. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The study suggests that physicians' well-being is mediated by professional aspects, such as social skills in relationships with patients.

10.1159/000354642http://hdl.handle.net/10447/99346