The effect of a stress coping training on burnout and musculoskeletal discomfort among oncology nurses

The effect of a stress coping training on burnout and musculoskeletal discomfort among oncology nurses. Download PDF Abstract Oncology nurses face high rates of psychosocial strain and musculoskeletal disorders that reinforce one another, yet ACT-based interventions targeting this population remain scarce, particularly in Iran. This quasi-experimental before-after study examined the effect of a six-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) program on burnout and musculoskeletal discomfort among 40 oncology nurses at a hospital in Kerman, Iran, selected by census sampling.

Burnout was measured with the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and musculoskeletal discomfort with the Localized Postural Discomfort scale before and after the intervention, with data analyzed using paired t-tests and repeated-measures ANCOVA. Following the intervention, overall burnout decreased significantly ( P < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.78), driven by reductions in work- and patient-related burnout, while personal burnout remained unchanged. Discomfort in the neck, low back, and shoulders also decreased significantly ( P < 0.05).

These findings support ACT-based training as a low-cost, evidence-based strategy for improving oncology nurses’ occupational health and patient care quality. Similar content being viewed by others Feasibility of a tailored, combined intervention with mind-body elements to prevent burnout in healthcare professionals (LAGOM) in a mixed-methods multicenter single-arm trial Article Open access 28 July 2025.

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