Compassion fatigue among forensic medicine specialists in Türkiye: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Compassion fatigue explains the reduced caregiving capacity of healthcare workers as a consequence of repeated exposure to patients' suffering. It is aimed to evaluate compassion fatigue and factors affecting this situation in forensic medicine specialists who evaluate cases that are victims of permanent trauma due to their profession. Data collection forms including demographic data and a short compassion fatigue scale (SCFS) in healthcare workers were filled out online by volunteer forensic experts. 113 forensic experts participated. It was determined that participants' total SCFS score average was 36.86±21.01, secondary trauma sub-dimension average was 12.39±7.74, occupational burnout sub-dimension average was 24.47±14.52. The total mean score of SCFS of the participants who evaluated less sexual assault was statistically significantly higher. The total mean score of SCFS and the mean of occupational burnout sub-dimension of the participants who did autopsy were found to be statistically significantly lower. The occupational burnout sub-dimension average of those who performed autopsy above the monthly autopsy median value was found to be statistically significantly lower. Sub-dimension average of burnout of participants in the first five years of their professional life was found to be statistically significantly higher. It is noteworthy that total and sub-dimension average scores of forensic medicine specialists in Turkey are significantly lower than those of different professions, especially health workers, in different countries. While this may be an indication that occupational depersonalization has developed over the years among forensic medicine specialists in Turkey, especially those who evaluate autopsy and sexual assault cases, from a different perspective, it can be said that increasing professional experience and working in harmony with the education received have a positive effect on compassion fatigue and burnout.