Oncology employees valued patient-oriented research over quality of work-life research: a qualitative study

To assess the role of quality of work-life (QWL) research in a clinical research environment.

A phenomenological qualitative research study was conducted. This research was conducted in a large Canadian ambulatory cancer treatment center that serves over 2.3 million people in Ontario, Canada. A variety of research activities are carried out at the center including clinical trials and a QWL project.

32 employees from a variety of activity groups were recruited by electronic mail and interviewed for approximately 1 hour. Two main questions ("Tell me about the research at the center"; "What do you think about the research activities at the center?") were posed to participants.

There was a perceived status difference in the research conducted at the center. PARTICIPANTS appeared to value clinical research (patient interests) over the QWL research (their own interests). Consistent with this perceived status difference, participants' perceptions and descriptions of research were framed in the context of clinical research.

Conducting workplace research in a clinical setting may pose challenges to occupational researchers. However, allowing oncology employees to participate in clinical research may enhance their QWL.