title: Well-being among Italian medical oncologists: an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, attention has been focused on physicians' stress and quality-of-life improvement. Due to their relationship with patients, oncologists in particular are overloaded physically, emotionally and psychologically. Previous studies showed that training of communication skills improves the satisfaction and well-being of physicians and patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our research investigates the relationship between work stress and engagement and personal well-being in physicians working in Italian hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  176 physicians were included. Doctors filled out self-report questionnaires to evaluate work stress and coping strategies, personal well-being, work engagement and two purpose-built scales to measure the degree of perceived organizational support and the level of specific training of social and relational skills. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data, as well as correlation analysis (Pearson's r), hierarchical regression analysis (enter step) and analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive and significant correlations were found between variables. Moreover, physicians who obtained higher levels of specific training on social and relational skills reported lower levels of stress. Oncologists experienced greater stress than other physicians in terms of maladaptive coping and lack of additional training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that physicians' well-being is mediated by professional aspects, such as social skills in relationships with patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Civilleri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bronte
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dispenza
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vieni
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guarneri
authors.forename: Valentina Lo
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Cascio
authors.forename: Francesca Paola
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Guadagna
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foddai
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pace
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires