Burnout and Coping Strategies Among Paediatric Oncologists: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND

Paediatric oncologists routinely face emotionally demanding situations, including prolonged exposure to child suffering, ethically complex decision-making, and high clinical workloads. These stressors contribute to burnout, moral distress, and psychological strain, yet their lived experiences remain underexplored.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesise existing evidence on the psychological challenges experienced by paediatric oncologists, with a focus on burnout, emotional exhaustion, moral distress, and coping strategies.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases [PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL] were searched for English-language studies published between 1992 and April 2025. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria [5 qualitative, 8 quantitative, 1 mixed-methods].

RESULTS

Key psychological stressors included emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, moral distress, and job dissatisfaction. Coping strategies ranged from peer support and physical activity to institutional interventions such as debriefing sessions and resilience training. Stigma surrounding help-seeking and systemic barriers to emotional support were recurrent themes.

CONCLUSION

Burnout in paediatric oncology is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by personal, ethical, and organisational factors. Addressing these challenges requires both individual-level coping mechanisms and systemic reforms, including trauma-informed leadership, confidential mental health support, and the redistribution of workloads. Future research should explore longitudinal outcomes and culturally diverse experiences to inform targeted interventions.