The relationship between coping strategies and burnout syndrome in oncology nurses

Abstract

Stress is a major problem in the nursing profession. It is related to work overload, lack of nursing staff, and work in shifts, lack of coping strategies and a high turnover amongst health care staff. Rapid increase of stress in the oncology centers results in a high risk of burnout. One of the options for prevention is to find suitable coping strategies. The research objective of this study was to determine the rate of burnout amongst oncology nurses and to determine the relationship between coping strategies and burnout amongst oncology nurses in the Czech Republic. The survey was designed as a quantitative research. A questionnaire battery was used consisting of questionnaires MBI-GS (Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey), evaluating the degree of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment) and standardized questionnaire OSI-R (Inventory of occupational stress) which evaluates the emotional, cognitive stress management and the coping strategy (personal resources for coping with stress). The results of a questionnaire MBI-GS showed that out of the total of 140 oncology nurses, burnout was detected in 36 (26 %) in the area of emotional exhaustion, in 24 (17 %) in depersonalization, and in 53 nurses (28 %) in personal accomplishment. The existence of a significant negative relationship was confirmed between the extent of burnout and all coping strategies monitored - social support, relaxation, self-care, and rational / cognitive coping.When analyzing all three areas of burnout, 23.66 % from the total number of 140 nurses are in the state of burnout. The results can be compared with the results of studies conducted by Zálešáková, Bužgová (2011) who found alarming values of burnout among 36.9 % oncology nurses and 11.9 % of the nurses were in the state of burnout. A meta-analysis of studies focusing on burnout among health care professionals working in oncology indicated that 25-36 % showed signs of burnout (Trufelli et al., 2008). Sherman, Edwards, Simonton & Mehta (2006) found that more than a third of health care workers in oncology show high levels of emotional exhaustion and approximately 48 % show reduced personal performance. Burnout leads to fluctuation of nurses. Fluctuation of nurses and their subsequent shortage is a problem in several countries (Bakker et al., 2013) and has a negative impact on the provision of quality health care (Toh, Ang, & Devi, 2012; Sherman, Edwards, Simonton & Mehta, 2006). Results also proved the existence of a significant negative relationship between burnout and the degree of social support, similarly to the research by Ježorská, Kozyková and Chrastina (2012). Social support is one of the protective factors against burnout, i.e. the factors that reduce the risk (Kebza & Šolcová, 2003; Křivohlavý, 1998; Ježorská & Tomanová, 2011; Le Blanc, Hox, Schaufeli, Taris, & Peeters, 2007; Mojoyinola, 2008). It proves the existence of a significant negative relationship between burnout and coping strategies, social support, recreation, self-care and rational/cognitive coping. These coping strategies are protective factors against burnout. Burnout occurs among oncology nurses and the risk is still present. Appropriate coping strategies can eliminate this risk