Leeat Granek1, Monika K Krzyzanowska2, Ora Nakash3, Michal Cohen3, Samuel Ariad4, Lisa Barbera5, Rotem Levy6, Merav Ben-David7. 1. Department of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. 2. Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, (IDC) Herzliya, Israel. 4. Department of Oncology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. 5. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 6. Medical School, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. 7. Department of Radiation Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to examine gender differences in the effect of grief reactions and burnout on emotional distress among clinical oncologists. METHODS: The participants included a convenience sample of 178 oncologists from Israel (52 of whom were women) and Canada (48 of whom were women). Oncologists completed a questionnaire package that included a sociodemographic survey, the General Health Questionnaire, a burnout measure, and the Adult Oncologists Grief Questionnaire. To examine the effect of grief reactions and burnout on emotional distress while controlling for country and past depression within each gender, 2 hierarchical linear regression analyses were computed. RESULTS: Female oncologists reported significantly more grief responses to patient death (mean, 47.72 [standard deviation (SD), 8.71] and mean, 44.53 [SD, 9.19], respectively), more emotional distress (mean, 12.41 [SD, 4.36] and mean, 10.64 [SD, 3.99], respectively), and more burnout (mean, 2.59 [SD, 1.69] and mean, 1.84 [SD, 1.5], respectively). For both genders, higher levels of grief reactions were associated with greater emotional distress among those who reported high levels of burnout (P<.001). However, for men, the association between grief reactions and emotional distress also was documented at moderate levels of burnout (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patient death is a regular part of clinical oncology. It is essential that oncologists be able to cope effectively with this aspect of their work. The findings of the current study highlight the need to take into account the cumulative stressors that oncologists contend with when designing supportive interventions. Gender differences in burnout, reactions to patient death, and emotional distress need to be addressed to ensure the best quality of life for oncologists and the best quality of care for their patients. Cancer 2016;122:3705-14.
BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to examine gender differences in the effect of grief reactions and burnout on emotional distress among clinical oncologists. METHODS: The participants included a convenience sample of 178 oncologists from Israel (52 of whom were women) and Canada (48 of whom were women). Oncologists completed a questionnaire package that included a sociodemographic survey, the General Health Questionnaire, a burnout measure, and the Adult Oncologists Grief Questionnaire. To examine the effect of grief reactions and burnout on emotional distress while controlling for country and past depression within each gender, 2 hierarchical linear regression analyses were computed. RESULTS: Female oncologists reported significantly more grief responses to patientdeath (mean, 47.72 [standard deviation (SD), 8.71] and mean, 44.53 [SD, 9.19], respectively), more emotional distress (mean, 12.41 [SD, 4.36] and mean, 10.64 [SD, 3.99], respectively), and more burnout (mean, 2.59 [SD, 1.69] and mean, 1.84 [SD, 1.5], respectively). For both genders, higher levels of grief reactions were associated with greater emotional distress among those who reported high levels of burnout (P<.001). However, for men, the association between grief reactions and emotional distress also was documented at moderate levels of burnout (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS:Patientdeath is a regular part of clinical oncology. It is essential that oncologists be able to cope effectively with this aspect of their work. The findings of the current study highlight the need to take into account the cumulative stressors that oncologists contend with when designing supportive interventions. Gender differences in burnout, reactions to patientdeath, and emotional distress need to be addressed to ensure the best quality of life for oncologists and the best quality of care for their patients. Cancer 2016;122:3705-14.
Authors: Z Chemali; F L Ezzeddine; B Gelaye; M L Dossett; J Salameh; M Bizri; B Dubale; G Fricchione Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2019-10-22 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Su-Jin Lee; Sang In Jung; Myung-Gwan Kim; Eunhee Park; Ae-Ryoung Kim; Chul Hyun Kim; Jong-Moon Hwang; Tae-Du Jung Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-11 Impact factor: 3.390