Paper Title
Management of Professional Stress in Specialized Hospitals for Treatment of Oncological Diseases

Abstract
According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work stress is the second most common work-related health problem. Almost 1 in 4 is affected by it and research data suggest that 50-60% of lost working days are due to stress. This has its health, social and economic consequences, so measures for prevention of occupational stress should be taken at all levels. Among the high-risk groups is the group of medical professionals. In this article we present the results from the conducted survey of stress levels among 63 health professionals working with cancer patients in several Bulgarian hospitals. The European directive on occupational health and safety obligates employers to identify and take timely measures against any stress factors in the workplace. The present study analyzes the main factors causing emotional stress and how they affect the quality of work. The subjective perception of the respondents is documented in regard to the key problems in the healthcare, specificity of and communication with this particular type of patients. It discusses the necessity of special training aimed at acquisition of techniques for more effective and appropriate communication with them so that it is tailored to their individual characteristics and their families alike. The healthcare of these patients relates to certain specific ethical and moral characteristics. The study discusses the relative importance of different problems in the treatment of cancer patients. Additionally, it looks into the moral and ethical aspects of the medical treatment regarding the patients as well as the healthcare professionals. A program has been designed to help prevent the occupational and emotional stress among medical specialists working with cancer patients. Keywords - Cancer Patients, Emotional Stress Prevention, Medical Professionals, Occupational Stress.