The “specter” of cancer: Exploring secondary trauma for health professionals providing cancer support and counseling.

Abstract

Health professionals are vulnerable to occupational stress and tend to report high levels of secondary trauma and burnout; this is especially so for those working in “high-death” contexts such as cancer support and palliative care. In this study, 38 health professionals (psychologists, social workers, pastoral carers/chaplains, nurses, group facilitators, and a medical practitioner) who provide grief support and counseling in cancer and palliative care each participated in a semistructured interview. Qualitatively, a grounded theory analysis revealed four themes: (a) the role of health professionals in supporting people who are experiencing grief and loss issues in the context of cancer, (b) ways of working with patients with cancer and their families, (c) the unique qualities of cancer-related loss and grief experiences, and (d) the emotional demands of the work and associated self-care. The provision of psychological services in the context of cancer is colored by the specter of cancer, an unseen yet real phenomenon that contributes to secondary trauma and burnout. The participants’ reported secondary trauma has serious repercussions for their well-being and may compromise the care they provide. The findings have implications for the retention and well-being of personnel who provide psychosocial care in cancer and the quality and delivery of services for people with cancer and their families.

What is needed to prepare speech pathologists to work in adult palliative care?

“…), and is likely to result in less burnout and career fatigue (Breen et al . ). Speech pathologists will not benefit from a piecemeal approach; instead, palliative care content and experiences should be stipulated in the curriculum.…”

Radiation therapists' and radiation oncology medical physicists' perceptions of work and the working environment in Australia: a qualitative study

“…Recent studies suggest that involvement in research not only contributes to evidence‐based practice, it is also a protective factor that assists in preventing workplace stress and burnout (Breen et al . ).…”

“…The current workplace modelling for radiation therapy in Australia indicates that each department should have at least one RT in a research-active position (Radiation Therapy Advisory Panel 2014). Recent studies suggest that involvement in research not only contributes to evidence-based practice, it is also a protective factor that assists in preventing workplace stress and burnout (Breen et al 2014).…”

Reported experiences of bereavement support in Western Australia: a pilot study

“…The findings of this pilot study and extensive participant feedback support the feasibility and acceptability of the survey questions and provide a good indication that the objectives of the larger population-based study can be achieved, in terms of describing the demographic characteristics of bereaved people, experience and impact of caring and bereavement, and satisfaction with support 12 [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] seven (30.4%) met one criterion (one did not complete this section). All met the event criterion (bereavement), 56.5% the separation criterion, 52.2% the duration criterion (experiencing symptoms at least daily and after six months from loss), 30.4% the social/ functional impairment criterion and 4.3% the cognitive, emotional and behavioural impairment criterion.…”