Risk of burnout in a sample of oncology healthcare professionals working in a hospital oncology unit with hospice and relationship with dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the role of metacognitions to burnout symptoms experienced by a sample of oncology healthcare professionals working in a hospital oncology unit with hospice. METHODS: The study involved a sample of 43 oncology health care professionals working in a hospital oncology unit. Participants were asked to provide demographic data and indicate their work experience. The Italian versions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Metacognitions Questionnaire were then administered. RESULTS: the results of descriptive statistics have shown that there was a medium risk of burnout. Furthermore, results of correlational analysis have shown some significant correlations between MBI and other constructs. There was a significant and moderate correlation between the emotional exhaustion factor and the Negative beliefs (r=0.46; P<0.01). Moreover, the personal accomplishment was significantly and positively correlated with the Cognitive self-consciousness (r=0.49; P<0.01). Lastly, the results of regression analyses have shown that the negative beliefs predicted for up to 22% of variance for emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, the Cognitive self-consciousness predicted for up to 22% of variance for personal accomplishment. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the fundamental role of assessing dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs in specialist palliative care practitioners to prevent burnout. Moreover, metacognitions seem to have a differential contribution to the three factors of burnout. Interventions to prevent burnout must consider these relationships.