Burnout in Pediatric Oncology: Team Building and Clay Therapy as a Strategy to Improve Emotional Climate and Group Dynamics in a Nursing Staff.

UNLABELLED

Healthcare professionals in pediatric oncology are at a high risk of burnout. Art therapy is being increasingly recognized as a potential tool for reducing stress and improving emotional well-being. The Art-Out pilot project aimed at nursing staff was initiated in a pediatric oncology unit. The staff members participating in the project were guided in a team-building course integrated with art and clay therapy, aiming to reduce burnout levels, improve emotional climate, and strengthen resilience.

METHODS

Burnout levels were assessed through the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), alexithymia was measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and emotional regulation difficulties were evaluated through the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS); these tests were assessed before (T0) and after (T1) the team-building course (Art-Out project).

RESULTS

Data analysis showed a significant reduction in burnout, alexithymia, and emotional dysregulation, highlighting the positive impact of this approach in improving team dynamics and emotional management.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms the high risk of burnout, alexithymia, and emotional dysregulation among pediatric oncology healthcare workers, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to prevent and mitigate these risks.