ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S2899

Interdiscplinary - Other

ESTRO 2024

Group therapy was selected as the approach to increase awareness, provide psychological support, and address the burnout symptoms of the RTU team for a better working environment in this unit.

General objective

Improving the RTU Team's Quality of Life by reducing tension in the work environment and developing more empathic relationships among team members and with the patients.

Specific objectives

Increase awareness of the RTU Team members on the burnout symptoms and the necessity to address them. Improving relationships within the staff, physician/physician; doctor/nurse. Improving the doctor/patient ratio. Improving the competencies of cooperation in the humanization of the cure through the exploration of the experiences of each of the doctor/nurse members of the group. Favoring connections within the team, to give the feeling of a group that cooperates and supports each party, without prejudice, without exception, at every moment of their experience. Empowerment of personal characteristics to manage situations faced with the communication of diagnoses, with the face of death always in the background. Processing of problems within the territory of the hospital to avoid their invasion in personal premises.

Material/Methods:

Group therapy was selected as the appropriate approach to address the situation of the RTU Team. Given the limited information on burnout and the stigmatization of cultural factors related to psychological support, the methodology included an icebreaking and awareness-raising phase to establish trust and create bonds between participants with the help of the Psychologist.

The training of a psychologist (psychotherapist with a psychoanalytical orientation) helped in facilitating the communication ensuring space for everyone's voice.

The work methods focused on bringing different topics from everyday life, or from the work environment in the hospital, in order to promote trust and acceptance of the limits of the other's thoughts or opinions.

Results:

Four out of 7 Radiation Oncologists that were skeptical of the burnout concept and the role of psychologist is supporting the group changed opinion and attitude opening up to the group therapy bringing their experience and perception to the group after the 1st three months of group meeting.

The team communication improved significantly after the 1st six months of group therapy.

The overall work environment improved and medical professionals’ attitude and communication with peers and patients changed positively.

Conclusion:

After a three-month period of weekly group therapy meetings, the resistance of some healthcare professionals was reduced and awareness of burnout improved. Following six months of regular meetings of the group (except for the vacation period), the way of dealing with many situations, even critical ones, in group format has been modified. Aspects of communication between doctors within the group have been improved.