Burnout and Coping Strategies Among Paediatric Oncologists: A Scoping Review

Harshitha D1, Vani Verma1, Arun Ghoshal1

  • 1Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.

Psycho-Oncology
|January 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Paediatric oncologists experience significant burnout due to demanding work. Addressing this requires individual coping strategies and systemic changes for better mental health support and workload management.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Psychology
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • Paediatric oncologists face unique stressors including child suffering, complex ethical decisions, and high workloads.
  • These factors contribute to burnout, moral distress, and psychological strain among these specialists.
  • The lived experiences of paediatric oncologists regarding these challenges are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize evidence on the psychological challenges faced by paediatric oncologists.
  • Focus on burnout, emotional exhaustion, moral distress, and effective coping strategies.
  • Provide a comprehensive overview for targeted support and interventions.

Main Methods:

  • A scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
  • Searched five major databases (PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL) for English-language studies (1992-April 2025).
  • Included 14 studies: 5 qualitative, 8 quantitative, and 1 mixed-methods.

Main Results:

  • Primary psychological stressors identified: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, moral distress, and job dissatisfaction.
  • Coping strategies include peer support, physical activity, debriefing sessions, and resilience training.
  • Stigma around seeking help and systemic barriers to support are significant recurring issues.

Conclusions:

  • Burnout in paediatric oncology is complex, influenced by personal, ethical, and organizational factors.
  • Solutions require individual coping skills and systemic reforms like trauma-informed leadership and workload redistribution.
  • Future research should investigate longitudinal impacts and diverse cultural experiences to refine interventions.
Abstract

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