Exploring oncologists' attitudes toward seeking mental health services: A grounded theory approach

The purpose of this study was to explore, with a group of male, medical oncologists, their attitudes toward seeking mental health services. Grounded theory was used to conduct the study. Through in-depth interviewing, observations, and memo writing, the researcher gathered empirical materials, formed concepts and themes, compared those concepts and themes to more data, and generated three new theories to provide deeper insight into oncologists' professional cultural beliefs and attitudes toward seeking mental health services.;Future studies should be conducted to include female and pediatric oncologists and those that examine the geographical and demographical influences of seeking help. The results of those studies can be compared to the data from this study. Retrospective studies should be conducted to assess counselor competency and qualitative studies to assess the utility and effectiveness of current mental health services programs designed to meet the needs of physicians.