Subsidized complementary therapies for staff and volunteers at a regional cancer centre: a formative study.
In the United Kingdom, the Government has acknowledged workplace stress and burnout in the National Health Service by establishing Improving Working Lives Standards, which recognize the need for a range of support mechanisms. Staff in oncology hospitals experience considerable stress because of the emotional intensity of work that involves limited clinical success, sustained contact with seriously ill/dying people, and serial bereavement. Evidence suggests that providing complementary therapies at work can help to reduce anxiety, depression and blood pressure and, thus, increase well-being. We used a purpose-designed questionnaire to assess awareness of, access to and the value placed on a complementary therapy service for staff and volunteers at a regional cancer centre. Free-text data from 167 completed questionnaires, subjected to qualitative analysis, revealed an overwhelmingly positive view of the service, but concerns about access. The service appeared to be a victim of its own success in that it could not meet demand within its existing resources and, thus, meet its potential for improving working lives; limits to resources also affected the conduct and rigour of our evaluation. We conclude by discussing the impact of the evidence-based practice culture on levels of funding for complementary therapy services operating in hospital settings.
Wilson
K
K
kate.wilson@manchester.ac.uk
Ganley
A
A
Mackereth
P
P
Rowswell
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000191:economics*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*