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Measuring quality of work-life: A participatory approach in a Canadian cancer center

Journal of Cancer Education volume 22, Article number: 62 (2007) Cite this article

Abstract

Background. Quality of work-life (QWL) has been gaining increasing attention in health care settings. To our knowledge, no QWL data for cancer centers have been published.Methods A participatory approach was used to develop a QWL survey that was administered to staff in Year 1 (Y1) and Year 2 (Y2) in a Canadian ambulatory cancer center.Results. Overall staff QWL scores were moderate in Y1 and Y2; however, there was considerable variation among four main employee groups (physicians, nurses, physicists, radiation therapists).Conclusions. The survey data provide a benchmark against which other cancer centers can be compared.

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Author notes

  1. Joanna E. M. Sale PhD, MSC

    Present address: Family & Community Medicine, Scarborough Hospital, 3000 Lawrence Avenue East, Building “A”, 2nd Floor, MIP 2V1, Scarborough, ON, Canada

Affiliations

  1. Institute for Work & Health, Canada

    Joanna E. M. Sale PhD, MSC

  2. McMaster University, Canada

    Joanna E. M. Sale PhD, MSC

  3. Juravinski Cancer Centre, Canada

    Marcia Smoke MRT(T), RT(T), ACT, MSC

Authors
  1. Joanna E. M. Sale PhD, MSC
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  2. Marcia Smoke MRT(T), RT(T), ACT, MSC
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Correspondence to Joanna E. M. Sale PhD, MSC.

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Sale, J.E.M., Smoke, M. Measuring quality of work-life: A participatory approach in a Canadian cancer center. J Canc Educ 22, 62 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174378

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174378

Keywords

  • Cancer Center
  • Emotional Exhaustion
  • Participatory Approach
  • Personal Accomplishment
  • Maslach Burnout Inventory