Distress in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is correlated with distress in nurses

PurposeTo date, no studies have reported on the relationship between the emotional distress of patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and the distress of their nurses.Methods113 patients rated their distress by means of a daily questionnaire during their inpatient hospitalisation for HSCT. At the same time, nurses were asked to assess their distress caused by the additional care needs and increased emotional demands placed on them by the patients. Surveys covered a treatment period from day −5 to day +29 post-HSCT.ResultsThe correlation between the distress level of the patients and that of the nurses was r = 0.40 (p < 0.001). The partial coefficient of this correlation was r = 0.43 (p < 0.001) when an indicator of the physical state of the patients, as assessed by their treating physicians, was controlled.ConclusionsDistress, as experienced by patients and nurses, is positively correlated. We assume that such a relation holds beyond other individual, organisational, structural, and occupational influences that play decisive and limiting roles in the patient–nurse relationship. Reducing the distress of one of these parties could also positively affect the distress levels of the other party. Therefore, patient distress should be monitored since it may add to nurse distress. Types of patient interventions, as well as the people responsible for performing these interventions, must be discussed. On the other hand, interventions aimed at reducing nurse distress (regardless of the cause of the distress) could reduce patient distress and improve their satisfaction with the treatment, and their quality of life.