Job Strain, Coping Strategies, and Work Performance among Oncology Nurses Working in Saudi Oncology Care Settings

A review of literature has revealed that although a great deal of research has been conducted internationally about job strain, coping strategies, and work performance in nurses, very little of this research has included nurses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and oncology nurses in general. The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to investigate the relationship between job strain, coping strategies, and work performance among nurses working in Saudi oncology care settings. A hypothesized study model was developed and tested based on Karasek’s Demand–Control Model and Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. A total of 241 oncology nurses from five hospitals in KSA completed a survey instrument, based on pre-existing standardized tools, including demographic and work items. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 22) and AMOS 21.0 software package. Structural equation modeling was used to test the study model. Study findings demonstrated that there were significant differences in levels of job strain, coping strategies, and work performance between the KSA publicly and privately funded hospitals. Oncology nurses in the publicly funded hospitals reported higher levels of job strain and lower levels of work performance. Significant negative relationships were found between job strain and work performance, and between job strain and coping strategies. Coping strategies were shown to partially mediate the relationship between job strain and work performance. Knowledge gained from this study may be useful in improving the work environments of oncology nurses and for developing policies to assist nursing management in the KSA