Fulfilled but worn out: Evaluating compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among Gynecologic Oncologists (093)

Abstract

<b>Objectives:</b> Professional quality of life is composed of positive (compassion satisfaction) and negative (compassion fatigue) components. Compassion fatigue is composed of two attributes: burnout and secondary traumatic stress (work-related trauma resulting from secondary exposure to people who have experienced extremely or traumatically stressful events). The objective of this study was to evaluate the professional quality of life of Gynecologic Oncologists. <b>Methods:</b> Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) members, classified as full member Gynecologic Oncologists, were surveyed via an anonymous RedCAP online survey regarding their professional quality of life. The survey was composed of a brief questionnaire assessing basic demographics followed by the ProQOL survey, a validated scale assessing the professional quality of life. This scale measured compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary trauma. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Associations between sociodemographic variables and professional quality of life components were analyzed using linear and logistic regression. <b>Results:</b> Of the 1,241 invited members, 151 (12%) completed the survey. The median age was 46 years old. Most respondents were female (60%), White (78%), and practiced in an academic institution (55%). ProQOL revealed that most respondents had moderate (57%) or high compassion satisfaction (41%) while few had low compassion satisfaction (1%). However, the majority also had moderate (63%) to high (2%) levels of burnout. Approximately half of the respondents reported a moderate (48%) or severe (2%) level of secondary trauma. Linear regression found that an increase in age was associated with increased compassion satisfaction (B=0.192, p=0.04) and lower rates of burnout (B=-0.217, p=0.02). Male respondents had lower burnout scores and lower secondary trauma scores when compared to those who did not identify as male (B=-0.181, p=0.05, and B=-0.179, p=0.06, respectively). Logistic regression found that those in a strictly academic practice environment were 2.12 times more likely to experience moderate or high levels of burnout than those in mixed or private practice (OR: 2.12, p=0.04). Female participants were 2.6 times more likely to report moderate or high secondary trauma than those who did not identify as female (p=0.02). <b>Conclusions:</b> Gynecologic Oncologists experience high levels of compassion satisfaction related to their work. However, they also experience a significant amount of compassion fatigue, as demonstrated by the moderate to high level of burnout and secondary trauma endorsed by many respondents. Sociodemographic factors, such as age, gender, and type of practice, may place some individuals at higher risk for compassion fatigue. This data may be used as a foundation for identifying and developing interventions to assist a significant number of Gynecologic Oncologists experiencing compassion fatigue.