Quality of life of physicians and nurses working in an oncology clinic

The objective of this study was to determine possible differences in the perception of quality of life (QoL) between physicians and nurses working in an oncology clinic in Turkey.

Seventy-seven physicians and 67 nurses participated in this study. All participants provided information such as the working hours per day and the number of years working in an oncology clinic. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQC30 questionnaire was used during face-to-face interviews by trained interviewers.

The mean age of physicians and nurses were 32±0.8 and 29,9±0.9 years, respectively (p>0.05). Forty-four percent of physicians and all nurses were women. Fifty-three percent of physicians and 57% of nurses were single. Mean working hours per day and number of working years were similar between physicians and nurses. The physical, emotional, and cognitive function scales of physicians were better and statistically significant compared with nurses (p<0.0001, p<0.0006, and p<0.0127, respectively). Global health score was also better in physicians but without statistical significance. In physicians, a significant negative correlation with working hours and emotional, cognitive, role, and social function scales was found. A significant positive correlation with the number of working years and emotional function scale and also with age and role, emotional, cognitive, and social scales was found. Global health showed significant negative correlation with working hours, and positive correlation with age, number of working years, physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social function scales.

It is important to recognize that oncology workers, particularly nurses, have poor QoL. There are many factors adversely affecting the QoL of oncology workers in Turkey, therefore systems should be developed to provide better support and conditions for them.