Self-help stress management training through mobile phones: An experience with oncology nurses.

Abstract

Although all professions are susceptible to work-related stress, the nursing profession has been identified as particularly stressful; indeed, oncology nursing is often described as being among the most stressful specialty areas. The current study tested the short-term effects of an innovative self-help stress management training for oncology nurses supported by mobile tools. The sample included 30 female oncology nurses with permanent status employed in six oncology hospitals in Milan, Italy. The stress inoculation training (SIT) methodology served as the basis of the training, with the innovative challenge being the use of mobile phones to support the stress management experience. To test the efficacy of the protocol, the study used a between-subjects design, comparing the experimental condition (SIT through mobile phones) with a control group (neutral video through mobile phones). The findings indicated psychological improvement of the experimental group in terms of anxiety state, anxiety trait reduction, and coping skills acquisition. This paper discusses implications for the implementation of this protocol in several contexts.

Burnout syndrome and coping strategies in Portuguese oncology health care providers

“…The 46 participants recruited in four Portuguese hospitals are predominantly nurses, a work category at a greater risk to develop burnout due to their close involvement in the care of patients 2,3,17 . Participants have low emotional exhaustion, low depersonalization, and high personal accomplishment, according to the Brazilian cut-offs of the Maslach Burnout Inventory 38 .…”

“…Health professionals, particularly nurses, working in oncology are at high risk for burnout, a complex phenomenon initially identified in parole officers working in community treatment programs 1–3 . Care providers dealing with situations beyond their skills, power, and energy may develop burnout syndrome 2,4 .…”

“…Considering this risk factor, an exceptional number of health professionals show symptoms of burnout, specifically those who work with patients suffering from chronic diseases and cancer 3,12–17 . For many of these health professionals, interactions with oncology patients heightens an intense fear of death and uncertainty about the future, perpetuating stress and increasingly likelihood of burnout 18–21 .…”

A mobile biosensor to detect cardiorespiratory activity for stress tracking

“…Stress is an increasingly recognized phenomenon that has negative effects on growing numbers of people [1,2]. Chronic stress is responsible for premature mortality in Western countries, and work-related stress accounts for premature cardiovascular mortality rates.…”

PROYECTO MAMÁFELIZ: Estudio sobre la Salud Mental prenatal a través de Internet

“…En los últimos años, se han desarrollado apps para la salud mental que han demostrado un buen potencial para el manejo del estrés y la ansiedad (Preziosa, Grassi, Gaggioli y Riva, 2009;Repetto et al, 2013;Villani y Riva, 2012;Villani et al, 2013). En este sentido podemos citar algún ejemplo de apps disponibles para la atención de los trastornos emocionales en el periodo prenatal.…”