Factors influencing nurses’ intention to work in the oncology specialty: multi-institutional cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Nursing care for terminally ill cancer patients is routinely provided by oncology nurses in Saudi Arabia. Shortages and retention of oncology nurses is an important concern for healthcare leaders. Objectives To identify and describe predictors of nurses’ intention toward working in the oncology specialty amongst three groups: undergraduate nursing students, oncology registered nurses and postgraduate oncology nursing students. In particular, the study sought to analyse association between individual characteristics, job-related factors, palliative care knowledge, attitude toward caring for dying patients, general self-efficacy, job satisfaction and intention to work in oncology. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 477 participants in five major hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing, Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire short form were used for data collection. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors associated with intention to work in oncology. Results 43.9% (n = 208) of the sample reported an intention to work in oncology. Only one variable was a significant predictor of intention to work in oncology across all three groups studied: a more positive attitude toward caring for dying patients (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.09 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.16]), (OR = 1.08 [95% CI 1.04–1.12]), (OR = 1.078 [95% CI 1.053–1.103] with P ≤ 0.001 for undergraduate, registered and postgraduate groups respectively. At post-graduate level, higher levels of palliative care knowledge and general self-efficacy were significantly associated with increased intention, whilst at undergraduate level, general self-efficacy was a significant predictor. Job satisfaction was a significant predictor of intention amongst registered nurses. Conclusions Attitude toward caring for dying patients and general self-efficacy appear to be the most important predictors of intention to work in the oncology nursing specialty. However, the significance of influencing factors varied between the different groups of nurses studied. Perhaps surprisingly, palliative care knowledge was an influential factor amongst the postgraduate group only. The study results provide important insights for nursing leaders and policymakers in Saudi Arabia to inform the future planning of nursing workforce strategies to address shortages and retention of oncology nurses.

Factors Influencing Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurse Retention: A Scoping Review

“…Concerns for patient safety due to high acuity and less-competent staff were noted to cause significant stress, as did the death of the pediatric patient, or multiple deaths in a short timeframe, especially when nurses were not able to adequately grieve due to organizational factors (time constraints, nurse/patient ratios, and multiple task demands). These findings are in line with additional studies which demonstrate that direct care for the patient with cancer (Alrasheedi et al, 2021; Barrett & Yates, 2002; Bond, 1994; Bourdeanu et al, 2020; Lagerlund et al, 2015) or the critically ill pediatric patient (Boyle & Bush, 2018; Dryden-Palmer et al, 2018; Flanders et al, 2020) place a significant psychological burden on nursing staff. While organizational factors are no doubt influential, it is the nature of the patient cohort that precipitates moral and ethical onus on nursing staff.…”

Palliative Care Practices and Knowledge of Home Care Nurses in Saudi Arabia

“…The modified version consisted of nine sections including quantitative and open-ended 2014). Related to level of education, postgraduate oncology nursing students had higher PCQN mean scores than oncology registered nurses without higher qualifications (Alrasheedi et al, 2021) providing evidence that PC education is an important factor influencing nurses' PC knowledge.…”

“…Similarly, research focused on nurses' PC knowledge in SA found higher mean PCQN scores were correlated with recently taken PC education (Aboshaiqah, 2019; Abudari et al, 2014). Related to level of education, postgraduate oncology nursing students had higher PCQN mean scores than oncology registered nurses without higher qualifications (Alrasheedi et al, 2021) providing evidence that PC education is an important factor influencing nurses' PC knowledge.…”

Home-Based Palliative Care and Home Health Care in Saudi Arabia: An Integrative Literature Review

“…Two studies provide information about the nursing workforce, which primarily comprises foreign nationals. Alrasheedi et al 24 examined factors associated with nurses' and nursing students' intention to work in oncology in a sample of 444 participants from 5 major hospitals. The researchers assessed the relationship between PC knowledge, attitudes toward caring for dying patients, self-efficacy, and job satisfaction with intention to practice oncology nursing in the future.…”