An intervention to manage compassion fatigue in oncology nurses in Durban, South Africa.

Abstract

Oncology nurses are involved through the often protracted and potentially traumatic continuum of diagnosis and treatment of their patients, which places them at high risk of developing compassion fatigue. The aim of the study was to develop and implement an in-facility intervention to manage compassion fatigue among oncology nurses in Durban, South Africa. The study was conducted with oncology nurses at state, private (private health insurance) and non-governmental oncology facilities (Hospice). The Self-Care Intervention for Oncology Nurses was developed and implemented using action research with a mixed methods sequential explanatory design. It involved an integrative review, Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) v 5 questionnaires (n = 83) and in-depth individual interviews (n = 8). Developed from the findings of the integrative review, quantitative and qualitative data, the Self-Care Intervention for Oncology Nurses comprised three components, namely psycho-education on risks (booklet), practices of remembrance (remembrance tree) and support structures (support group and follow-up family call). Overall, the participants enjoyed reading the booklet and engaging in the support group. There were varied responses to the remembrance tree and hesitancy to partaking in the follow-up phone call. The developed intervention could encourage awareness of compassion fatigue amongst oncology nurses' engagement in self-care practices such as symbolic remembrance of patients and recognition of the value of support structures. The intervention may assist oncology nurses in the provision of compassionate caring for their patients and potentially minimise compassion fatigue.