Burnout in Pediatric Oncology: Team Building and Clay Therapy as a Strategy to Improve Emotional Climate and Group Dynamics

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Abstract
Healthcare professionals in pediatric oncology are at high risk of burnout. Art therapy is increasingly recognized as a potential tool for reducing stress and improving emotional well-being. The Art-Out pilot project aimed at nursing staff was initiated in a pediatric oncology unit. The staff members participating in the project were guided in a team-building course integrated with art and clay therapy, aiming to reduce burnout levels, improve emotional climate and strengthen resilience. Methods: Burnout levels were assessed through the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) before (T0) and after (T1) the team-building course (Art-Out project), alexithymia was measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and emotional regulation difficulties were evaluated through the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Results: Data analysis showed a significant reduction in burnout, alexithymia, and emotional dysregulation, highlighting the positive impact of this approach in improving team dynamics and emotional management. Conclusions: Our study confirms the high risk of burnout, alexithymia and emotional dysregulation among pediatric oncology healthcare workers, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to prevent and mitigate these risks.

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