The relations between perceived stress, communication skills and psychological symptoms in oncology nurses

Year 2015, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 170 - 177, 01.10.2015

Nevin Onan Gül Ünsal Barlas Semra Karaca Nazmiye Kocaman Yıldırım Özgül Taşkıran Fatma Sümeli

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the correlation between perceived stress, communication skills and psychological symptoms in oncology nurses.

Methods: The study was conducted in collaboration with 102 nurses working in oncology departments of hospitals in Istanbul. The data was collected through Questionnaire Form, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Communication Skills Assessment Scale (CSAS) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSS). Descriptive statistical analysis and spearman correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data. 

Results: Nurses received 16.85 (SD=6.08) points from PSS, 73.34 (SD=23.28) points from CSAS, and lastly 32.68 (SD=33.13) points from BSI. 84.3% of the nurses reported experiencing communication problems with angry and agitated patients. There was a negative correlation between PSS and CSAS (r=-0.28; p<0.01). A positive correlation was found between PSS and BSI total scores (r=0.50; p<0.01) and all the other sub-dimensions.

Conclusion: Improving communication skills of oncology nurses and the interventions for their perceived stress levels may have effects as promoting their own psychological health as well as decreasing communicational difficulties with the patients and their families; and thus, it may affect the quality of care.

Keywords

oncology nurse, communication, perceived stress, psychological symptoms

Onkoloji hemşirelerinde algılanan stres, iletişim becerileri ve psikolojik semptomlar arasındaki ilişkiler

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı onkoloji hemşirelerinde algılanan stres, iletişim becerileri ve psikolojik semptomlar arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir.

Yöntem: Çalışma İstanbul’da onkoloji birimlerinde çalışan 102 hemşireyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler Bilgi Formu, Algılanan Stres Ölçeği (ASÖ), İletişim Becerilerini Değerlendirme Ölçeği (İBDÖ) ve Kısa Semptom Envanteri (KSE) kullanılarak toplanmış ve tanımlayıcı istatistiksel analiz ve sperman korelasyon analizi kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir.

Bulgular: Hemşirelerin ASÖ puan ortalaması 16.85 (SD=6.08), İBDÖ puan ortalaması 73.34 (SD=23.28) ve KSE puan ortalaması 32.68 (SD=33.13) bulunmuştur. Hemşirelerin %84.3’ü öfkeli ve ajite hastalarla iletişimde güçlük yaşadıklarını ifade etmiştir. ASÖ ile İBDÖ arasında (r=-0.28; p<0.01) ve ASÖ ile KSE toplam puan (r=0.50; p<0.01) ve alt boyutları arasında pozitif bir korelasyon saptanmıştır. 

Sonuç: Onkoloji birimlerinde çalışan hemşirelerin iletişim becerilerini güçlendirmek ve algıladıkları stres düzeylerine yönelik girişimde bulunmak hem hemşirelerin kendi psikolojik sağlıklarına hem de hasta ve ailelerle yaşadıkları iletişim güçlüklerini azaltmaya ve dolayısıyla sunulan hizmetin kalitesine olumlu katkıda bulunabilir.

Keywords

onkoloji hemşiresi, iletişim, algılanan stres, psikolojik semptom

References

• Nakao M. Work-related stress and psychosomatic medicine. BioPsychoSocial Medicine. 2010; 4(4): 2-8.
• Bilge A, Öğce F, Genç RE, Oran NT. Algılanan stres ölçeği (ASÖ)’nin Türkçe versiyonunun psikometrik uygunluğu. Ege Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Yüksekokulu Dergisi. 2009; 25(2): 61-72.
• Lazarus RS. Coping theory and research: past, present and future. Psychosomatic Medicine. 1993; 55: 234-247.
• Kadzikowska-Wrzosek R. Perceived stress, emotional ill-being and psychosomatic symptoms in high school students: the moderating effect of self-regulation competences. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. 2012; 3: 25-33.
• McVicar A. Workplace stress in nursing: a literature review. J Adv Nurs. 2003; 44(6): 633-642.
• Güleryüz E, Aydın O. İş kontrolü ve kontrol isteği ile tükenmişlik ve fiziksel sağlık arasındaki ilişkiler (Job control and control at the request of the relationship between burnout and physical health). Türk Psikoloji Dergisi. 2006; 21(58): 59-71.
• Hjörleifdóttir E, Carter DE. Communication with terminally ill cancer patients and their families. Nurse Education Today. 2000; 20: 646-653.
• Medlan J, Howard-Ruben JH, Whitaker E. Fostering psychosocial wellness in oncology nurses: adressing burnout and social support in workplace. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2004; 31(1): 47-54.
• Ravazi D, Delvaux N. Communication skills and psychological training in oncology. Eur J Cancer. 1997; 33(6): 15-21.
• Chang EM, Daly J, Hancock KM, Bidwell JW, Johnson A, Lambert VA, Lambert CE. The relationships among workplace stressors, coping methods, demoghraphic characteristics, and health in Australian nurses. J Prof Nurs. 2006; 22: 30-38.
• Lambert VA, Lambert CE, Ito M. Workplace stressors, ways of coping and demographic characteristics as predictors of physical and mental health of Japanese hospital nurses. Int J Nurs Stud. 2004; 41: 85-97.
• Schmitz N, Neumann W, Oppermann R. Stress, burnout and locus of control in German nurses. Int J Nurs Stud. 2000; 37: 95-99.
• Erci B. Reliability and valididy of the Turkish version of perceived stress scale. Journal of Anatolia Nursing And Health Sciences. 2006; 9(1): 58-63.
• Korkut F. İletişim becerileri eğitiminin lise öğrencilerinin iletişim becerilerini değerlendirmelerine etkisi. 3P Dergisi. 1996; 4(3): 191- 198.
• Savaşır I, Şahin N. Bilişsel Davranışçı Terapilerde Değerlendirme: Sık Kullanılan Ölçekler. Ankara:Turkish Psychological Association Publications; 1997. p.110-123.
• Sahin NH, Durak-Batigün A, Ugurtas S. Kısa semptom envanteri (KSE): ergenler için kullanımının gecerlik, güvenirlik ve faktör yapısı. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi. 2002; 13(2): 125-135.
• Işıkhan V, Comez T, Danıs MZ. Job stress and coping strategies in health care working with cancer patients. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2004; 8(3): 234-244.
• Escot-Dr C, Artero S, Gandubert C, et al. Stress levels in nursing staff working in oncology. Stress Health. 2001; 17(5): 273-279.
• Parle M, Maguire P, Heaven C. The development of a training model to improve health professionals’skills, self-efficacy and outcome expectancies when communicating with cancer patients. Soc Sci Med. 1997; 44(2): 231-240.
• Wilkinson S: Factors which influence how nurses communicate with cancer patients. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 1991; 16: 677-688.
• Sheldon LK. Communication in oncology care: the effectiveness of skills training workshops for healthcare providers. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2005; 9(3): 305-312.
• Aycock N, Boyle D. Interventions to manage compassion fatigue in oncology nursing. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2009; 13: 183-191.
• Onan N. Evaluation of stress coping training performed on the nurses who are working in oncology units [dissertation]. Institute of Health Sciences: Marmara University; 2009.
• Kushnir T, Rabin S, Azulai S. A descriptive study of stress management in a group of pediatric oncology nurses. Cancer Nursing. 1997; 20(6): 414-421.
• Bernard D, Street A, Love A. Relationship between stressors, work supports, and burnout among cancer nursing. Cancer Nursing. 2006; 29(4): 338-345.
• Davis S, Kristjanson L, Blight J. Communication with families of patients in an acute hospital with advanced cancer: problems and stratagies identified by nurses. Cancer Nursing. 2003; 26(5): 337-345.
• Onan NG, Buzlu S. Diffuculties encountered by the nurses in the care of terminally ill cancer patients and their coping methods. Nursing Forum. 2007; 1-2: 104-109.
• Papadopoulos I, Lees S. Cancer and communication: similarities and differences of men with cancer from six different ethnic groups. Eur J Cancer Care. 2004; 13: 154-162.
• Sasahara T, Miyashita M, Kawa M, Kazuma K. Difficulties encountered by nurses in the care of terminally ill cancer patients in general hospitals in Japan. Palliat Med. 2003; 17: 520-526.
• Wilkinson SM, Leliopoulou C, Gambles M, Roberts A. Can intensive three-day programmes improve nurses’communication skills in cancer care. Psychooncology. 2003; 12(8): 747-760.
• Iacovides A, Fountoulakis KN, Kaprinis S, Kaprinis G. The relationship between job stress, burnout and clinical depression. J Affect Disord. 2003; 75: 209-221.
• Kaçmaz N. Burnout syndrome. Journal of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. 2005; 68(1): 29-32.
• Quattrin R, Zanini A, Nascig E, Annunziata MA, Calligaris R, Brusaferro S. Level of burnout among nurses working in oncology in an Italian Region. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2006; 33(4): 815-820.
• Arranz P, Ulla SM, Ramos JL, Rincon C, Lopez-Fando T. Evaluation of a counseling training program for nursing staff. Patient Educ Couns. 2005; 56: 233-239.
• Delvaux N, Razavi D, Marchal S, Bredart A, Farvacques C, Slachmuylder JL. Effects of a 105 hours psychological training program on attitudes, communication skills and occupational stress in oncology: a randomised study. Br J Cancer. 2004; 90: 106-114.
• Kruijver PMI, Kerkstra A, Jozien MB, Van de Wiel BMH. Nurse-patient communication in cancer care: a revıew of the lıterature. Cancer Nurs. 2000; 23(1): 20-31.
• Dorz S, Novara C, Sıca C, Sanavio E. Predicting burnout among HIV/ AIDS and oncology health care workers. Psychology and Health. 2003; 18(5): 677-684.
• Mackereth PA, White K, Cawthorn A, Lynch B. Improving stressful working lives: complementary therapies, counselling and clinical supervision for staff. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2005; 9: 147-154.
• Medlan J, Ruben JH, Whitaker E. Fostering psychosocial wellness in oncology nurses: adressing burnout and social support in workplace. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2004; 31(1): 47-54.
• Özkan S. Psycho-oncology. İstanbul: Novartis Oncology Inc. 2007.
• Pierce B, Dougherty E, Panzarella T, Le LW, Rodin G, Zımmerman C. Staff stress, work satisfaction, and death attitudes on an oncology palliative care unit, and on a medical and ratiation oncology inpatient unit. J Palliat Care. 2007; 23(1): 32-39.
• Ramirez AJ, Graham J, Richards MA, Cull A, Gregory WM, Leaning MS. Burnout and psychiatric disorder among cancer clinicians. Br J Cancer. 1995; 71(6): 1263-1269.
• Shives LR. Basic Concepts of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. Seventh Edition, Philedelphia, USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008.