title: Patient-Centredness, Job Satisfaction and Psychological Distress: a Brief Survey Comparing Oncology Nurses and Doctors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to explore whether levels of patient-centredness, job satisfaction and psychological distress varied between oncology nurses and doctors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires, a total of 24 nurses and 43 doctors were assessed for patient-centredness, psychological distress, and job satisfaction using the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Job Satisfaction Scale. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and MANCOVA, with p<0.05 considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall response rate was 95.6% (43/45) for physicians and 85.7% (24/28) for nurses. Even after adjusting for known covariates, our principal finding was that doctors reported greater psychological distress compared to nurses (p=0.009). Doctors also reported lower job satisfaction compared to nurses (p = 0.017), despite higher levels of patient-centredness found in nurses (p=0.001). Findings may be explained in part by differences in job characteristics and demands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mental health is an important concern not just in cancer patients but among healthcare professionals in oncology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mail : caryn.chan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Caryn Mei Hsien
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Wan Azman
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wan Ahmad
authors.forename: Mastura Md
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Yusof
authors.forename: Gwo Fuang
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krupat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology