Perceived Stress and Professional Quality of Life among Oncology Nurses in Morocco and the MENA Region: A Narrative Review with International Perspectives

Oncology nurses face substantial psychological and organizational challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Perceived stress and professional quality of life (ProQOL) are key constructs for understanding occupational well-being and its implications for patient care. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on perceived stress and ProQOL among oncology nurses, focusing on Morocco and the broader MENA region within an international perspective. A targeted literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2025 in English and French. Nineteen studies were included, encompassing psychometric validations of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL), as well as empirical research conducted in Morocco, the MENA region, and internationally. Selection criteria included clinical relevance, contextualization within Arab settings when available, and methodological rigor. Findings consistently indicate high levels of perceived stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue among oncology nurses across regions. Common risk factors included heavy workload, insufficient institutional support, and repeated exposure to patient suffering. Context-specific patterns emerged, with resilience and moral distress emphasized in Arab settings, and structural determinants such as staffing, remuneration, and prevention policies highlighted internationally. Methodological limitations were frequent, including small, non-representative samples and cross-sectional self-report designs. Overall, perceived stress and ProQOL represent critical global challenges for oncology nurses, underscoring the need for institutional support, resilience-building interventions, and organizational reforms to enhance nurse well-being and cancer care quality.

Keywords: perceived stress, professional quality of life (ProQOL), burnout; oncology nurses, MENA region, Morocco