Psycho-emotional impact on oncology staff in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire): a cross-sectional study

The mental health of oncology staff is often impacted by the suffering of patients, in the face of which they frequently feel powerless. The objective of this study was to examine the psycho-emotional experiences of medical and paramedical staff in the oncology and onco-hematology departments of the Treichville and Yopougon University Hospitals.

We conducted a prospective, descriptive, bicentric study from January 2021 to May 2022 involving 73 healthcare workers recruited through exhaustive sampling. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale was used to assess anxiety among the participants.

Our results revealed that nearly three-quarters of the study participants (73%) had between 1 and 5 years of professional experience and were mostly physicians (72%) or nurses (25%). Symptoms of psychological trauma were observed, particularly avoidance behaviours (46%) and traumatic re-experiencing (46%). A consistently sad mood was reported by 71% of the caregivers. Frequent psychosomatic complaints such as headaches (42%) and epigastric pain (35%) were also noted. Severe anxiety was found in 29% of participants. A shift in personal values was observed, including an increase in religious practices, which rose from 19% to 30%. Finally, 72% of caregivers expressed a desire for psycho-oncological support.

Healthcare personnel in onco-hematology, who care for seriously ill patients often nearing the end of life, are regularly affected on a psycho-emotional level, highlighting the need to establish dedicated psycho-emotional support for this workforce.