Oncology social workers: exploring their perceptions of work-related wellbeing

This study explored perceptions of work-related wellbeing among oncology social workers based in the private healthcare sector and in independent hospices in the Western Cape. The study aimed to explore the participants' understanding of the concept of work-related wellbeing, the possible promoting and inhibiting factors to work-related wellbeing and recommendations that they identified as important for the promotion of work-related wellbeing in oncology social work. This study employed a qualitative approach and it made use of an exploratory research design. Eighteen participants were selected, and the researcher used snowball sampling. In depth, one-to-one interviews were conducted online via the ‘Zoom' platform and the researcher made use of a semi-structured interview schedule. Qualitative research methods were used to analyse the data gathered from the interviews. This study revealed the complex nature of oncology social work, which is perceived to be a rewarding and challenging field of work. The findings revealed that work-related wellbeing is a multi-faceted concept, which can be promoted in several ways. Findings also revealed the factors which promote or inhibit the work-related wellbeing of oncology social workers. These were discussed according to organisational, occupational, psychological, and social factors. Participants discussed several key strategies that could be used to promote work-related wellbeing in the oncology social work context, which may mitigate against the onset of work-related stress and burnout. The most prominent strategies to emerge consistently in the findings refer to workplace social support, self-awareness, and reflective practice as well as the importance of practising self-care. The ability to find meaning in oncology social work was another significant promoting factor as it allowed the participants to derive satisfaction, and meaning from their work, notwithstanding the many challenges they face through working with death and dying. Participants had several recommendations to offer other oncology social workers and oncology organisations to promote work-related wellbeing. These were: workplace social support; selfcare; regular opportunities for continued professional development and training; as well as the importance of maintaining a work-life balance. Further recommendations were made to oncology organisations on the ways in which workplace social support could be encouraged and how regular opportunities for professional development and training could be offered to oncology social workers. Recommendations for future research are also discussed