Protection from work stress and burnout in Italian oncologists

Oncology is a field of medicine with an high psychological investment and therefore at high risk for burnout (Gandey, 2006). Is possible to identify the causes of burnout in the complex combination of environmental stressors, including factors that are closely related to oncology and elements of the personality of the subjects (Guarino, 2006). This work aims to explore burnout risk, job satisfaction, quality of life and coping styles in a sample of physicians that works in some Italian oncological units. We used the Health Professions Stress and Coping Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the General Health Questionnaire and a scale that explore the socio-relational perceived skills. The main hypothesis is that personal well-being of the oncologists interviewed (as protective factor of burn-out), can be modulated by variables connected with the role, adaptive coping strategies, degree of work engagement and perceived degree of organizational support.