Now, recent research has revealed almost a third of oncologists are experiencing high symptoms of psychological distress 2 .
Oncologists are likely to experience both acute and chronic work related distress.
Acute stress describes the reactions to a specific event, for example, an unexpected or difficult death. Acute stress reactions include high levels of arousal experienced as restlessness, irritability, disturbed sleep and panic attacks. Despite evidence showing oncologists are an at risk group for work related distress, the emotional impact of this profession remains largely unacknowledged. There are, however, mounting reasons to move beyond the more traditional stoical approach to stress and burnout. For example, while stress affects the oncologist emotionally and physically, work performance declines and work stress may transfer home.