Attitudes of nursing students towards the specifics of mental health in oncology health professionals

UVOD: Onkologija je grana medicine poznata po svojoj kompleksnosti u prevenciji, dijagnostici, liječenju i rehabilitaciji osoba oboljelih od malignih bolesti. Skrb o onkološkom pacijentu zahtijeva multidisciplinaran pristup u kojem važnu ulogu ima upravo medicinska sestra/tehničar. CILJ: Glavni cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati stavove studenata sestrinstva o potencijalnim negativnim posljedicama na mentalno zdravlje zdravstvenih djelatnika zaposlenih na odjelu onkologije. Nadalje, usporedile su se razlike u stavovima s obzirom na razinu studija koju ispitanici pohađaju te broj godina radnog iskustva u području sestrinstva. METODE I ISPITANICI: Stavovi su mjereni autorskim upitnikom izrađenim isključivo za potrebe ovog istraživanja. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 103 studenata preddiplomskih i diplomskih, stručnih i sveučilišnih studija neovisno o godini studiranja. REZULTATI: Rezultati dobiveni provedbom istraživanja pokazuju kako većina studenata zdravstvenu njegu onkoloških pacijenta smatra izuzetno kompleksnom. Najveće slaganje uočeno je u tvrdnjama vezanim za pružanje specifične psihološke potpore onkološkim pacijentima, izloženosti nizu kroničnih stresora te tvrdnji da nedostatak slobodnog vremena pogoduje razvoju simptoma sindroma izgaranja. Ispitanici su se u najmanjoj mjeri složili s tvrdnjom adekvatnosti plaće te tvrdnjom da svjedočenje smrti može pomoći u prevladavanju straha od smrtnosti. Glavne razlike uočene na temelju dobivenih odgovora, s obzirom na razinu obrazovanja i radno iskustvo u struci, odnose se na adekvatnost plaće na onkološkim odjelima te izloženosti nizu kroničnih stresora. ZAKLJUČAK: Unatoč nekoliko uočenih razlika u stupnju slaganja s tvrdnjama, zaključak je da studenti sestrinstva u podjednakoj mjeri smatraju da rad na onkologiji pogoduje razvoju mentalnih poteškoća.INTRODUCTION: Oncology is a branch of medicine known for its complexity when it comes to preventing, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating people suffering from a malignant disease. Oncology patient care calls for a multidisciplinary approach in which an important role is played by nurses. AIM: The main goal of this survey was to examine the attitudes of nursing students towards potential negative consequences for healthcare professionals working in the oncology department. Furthermore, the differences in attitudes were compared based on the level of study of the participants and their years of work experience in nursing. METHODS AND RESPONDENTS: The attitudes were measured using a questionnaire which was made exclusively for the purposes of this survey. One hundred and three undergraduate and graduate, professional and university study students participated in the survey regardless of the academic year they enrolled in. RESULTS: The survey results show that the majority of students consider oncology patient care to be highly complex. The highest level of agreement was observed in statements related to the provision of specific psychological support to oncology patients, and exposure to a series of chronic stressors, and the statement that a lack of free time favours the development of burnout syndrome symptoms. The participants least agreed with the statement related to salary adequacy, and the statement that witnessing death can help overcome the fear of death. The main differences observed based on the answers received, with regard to the participants' education level and work experience, relate to salary adequacy in oncology departments, and exposure to a series of chronic stressors. CONCLUSION: Although some differences in the level of agreement were noted, we arrived at the conclusion that nursing students agree in equal measure that working in oncology favours the development of mental health problems