Psychological care of caregivers, nurses and physicians: a study of a new approach

Abstract

There is much evidence demonstrating that psychosocial interventions in caregivers and oncological staff produce an improvement in their patients' quality of life. The aim of this explorative study was to evaluate the effect of a new approach in promoting more functional ways to face stressful situations in the constellation of people around patients: caregivers, physicians and nurses. Thirty-four subjects were divided into three groups: 10 caregivers, 11 physicians, and 13 nurses. A “Balint Group” method modified according to a mindfulness technique was used as the intervention. Three assessment tools were administered to the participants at baseline, during, and after completion of the study: the Response Evaluation Measure (REM-71), the Satisfaction Profile (SAT-P), and the Group Climate Questionnaire (GCQ). Mean values of defense mechanisms determined by the REM-71 were compared with those of the standard population. At baseline, we observed a prevalence of immature defenses in the three groups, with mean values above those in the standard population. After the psychological intervention, a tendency to normalization of the mean values was observed, indicating the development of more adaptive ways of using defense mechanisms and the effectiveness of the intervention. Group climate, assessed through the GCQ, showed an increase in the “Engagement” factor and a decline in the “Conflict” factor in all groups. This study suggests that group treatment focused on changing personal responses to stressful situations can induce more adaptive strategies enabling caregivers, hematologists, and nurses to help patients better and thereby improve their quality of life.

Mind the gap: The role of mindfulness in adapting to increasing risk and climate change

“…It is a growing body of research that illustrates the importance of mindfulness in post-disaster response and recovery to increase psychological resilience. Studies assess the potential importance of faith-based coping (Chen n.d. ; Cherry and Allred 2012 ; Henslee et al 2015 ; McGeehan 2012 ) and mindfulness interventions for different target groups: disaster victims, disaster aid workers (e.g., firefighters, healthcare professionals 1 and volunteers), and disaster researchers (Catani et al 2009 ; Hechanova et al 2015 ; Hoeberichts 2012 ; Matanle 2011 ; Srivatsa et al 2013 ; Yoshimura et al 2015 ; Zeller et al 2015 ; Eriksen and Ditrich 2015 ; Smith et al 2011 ; Waelde et al 2008 ; Setti and Argentero 2015 , 2014 ; Abeni et al 2014 ; Dierynck et al 2017 ; Raab et al 2015 ). They show the positive influence not only for reducing post-disaster trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, 2 and compassion fatigue, but also for supporting post-disaster growth (e.g., Chan and Rhodes 2013 ; Jacobsen 2008 ; Hanley et al 2015 ; Shiyko et al 2017 ).…”

Mediating effects of self‐efficacy, coping, burnout, and social support between job stress and mental health among young Chinese nurses

“…Since young nurses accounted for 52.55% of nursing population in Sichuan Province (Health Commission of Sichuan Province, ), nursing managers should assess and monitor the stress states of young nurses clearly and pay more attentions to those with high level of job stress. Appropriate measures such as mindfulness‐based stress reduction (Song & Lindquist, ), Balint group (Abeni et al, ), emotion regulation training (Saedpanah, Salehi, & Moghaddam, ), stress management programme (Didehvar et al, ), etc. could be adopted to help young nurses alleviating job stress and preventing depression and anxiety.…”

Neurological, psychological, and cognitive disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative and replacement therapy

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