Strategies of coping in a sample of oncological nurses

Evidence suggests that oncology is a department with high emotional impact and at high risk of burnout. This suggestion was further tested in the present study where the coping styles of oncology nurses were investigated, and the correlation between burnout levels, strategies of coping, personality traits and socio-demographic variables were assessed. 16 oncology nurses (6M, 10F), 39.94 ± 7.67 years old, were evaluated through Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE). Burnout was middle-low level but women rated higher than men and 62.5% of nurses showed high level of emotional exhaustion. Most common strategies of coping were emotion oriented for women and avoidance oriented for men. The workload, but not the workplace, was the strongest determinant of coping styles. Coping was not associated with burnout but with personality traits.