Prevalence Of Compassion Fatigue Research Articles

Compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and coping strategies of mental health professionals.

The prevalence of compassion fatigue (CF) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) has been studied with a predominant focus on medical care professionals, indicating a significant presence of STS and CF among them. The present study has identified a dearth in the representation of mental healthcare professionals (MHPs), grouped by psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatry nurses, and psychiatric social workers within the Indian context. To assess the degree of CF and STS and the subsequent coping mechanisms adopted by MHPs. This study followed a cross-sectional research design. There were 75 participants selected using purposive sampling and administered scales that measured CF, STS, and coping strategies adopted by the participants. There is a strong presence of CF in MHPs along with problem-focused coping as the preliminary approach to STS. Participants with average or higher scores in STS had higher intrusion scores. Higher STS scores tend to have avoidant coping styles in comparison to the larger sample. Female participants indicated higher levels of CF and STS than their male counterparts. The study emphasizes on the immediate requirement to address and manage CF levels among the MHPs and focus on the factors that continue to aggravate STS.

Compassion Fatigue in a Cohort of South Italian Nurses and Hospital-Based Clinical Social Workers Following COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background/Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in the workloads of healthcare workers (HCWs). The fear of contracting the new virus with the frequent medical consequences has affected their mental health. As a result, they are at high risk of compassion fatigue (CF). In this multicentric study, as a primary objective, we evaluate the incidence and/or prevalence of CF in a cohort of Italian nurses and HCWs (hospital-based clinical social workers of neurological patients) who have contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our secondary aim is to evaluate the difference in experiencing CF between subjects with and without long-term COVID. Methods: In this study, 101 HCWs attending three different neurorehabilitation settings (the Neurorehabilitation Unit of the "Bonino Pulejo" Neurolesi Center of Messina, the Neurorehabilitation Department of Crotone, and the Psychiatric Unit of the University Hospital of Messina) were enrolled from May 2021 to May 2023. Data were collected through self-administered semi-structured interviews. Results: We observed high percentages of CF difficulties in both nurses and HCWs, related to mood alteration in 57.7%, headaches in 44.4%, and fatigue in 62%. Higher percentages were found in individuals with long-term COVID-19, including mood alteration in 93.9%, headache in 88.6%, and memory-related problems in 98.5%. Conclusions: The complexity of a patient's care pathway, especially in chronic disease situations, requires an enormous commitment that can lead to burnout and CF, which should be considered to initiate preventive interventions aimed at helping "those who help", for the well-being of patients, healthcare teams, and healthcare organizations.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals before and during COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Compassion fatigue is a significant concern globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing challenges, placing unprecedented strain on healthcare professionals. This study systematically estimated the prevalence of compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals before and during COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review was conducted using keywords in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and grey literature, covering all literature published between 2012 and December 30, 2023. The search team independently conducted study selection, quality assessments, data extractions, and analysis of all included studies. The systematic review, reported following PRISMA guidelines, included 11 studies. The results show that the pooled overall prevalence of compassion fatigue in Sub-Saharan Africa was 70% (95% CI: 57-82, I2 = 88.37%). The highest prevalence was found in Eastern Africa at 74% (95% CI: 55-93, I2 = 94.40%), compared to 64% in Southern Africa (95% CI: 49-79, I2 = 59.01%). Nurses reported the highest rates of compassion fatigue at 80% (95% CI: 57-100, I2 = 34.77%), followed by general healthcare professionals at 59% (95% CI: 22-97, I2 = 94.11%) and nursing students at 50% (95% CI: 35-64, I2 = 0.00%). Before COVID-19, the overall prevalence of compassion fatigue was 66% (95% CI: 41-91, I2 = 27%). During COVID-19, this increased to 74% (95% CI: 63-85, I2 = 88.73%). Our results indicate that nearly 3 in 4 healthcare professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa experience compassion fatigue, and this prevalence increased due to the pandemic. The high prevalence underscores the importance of addressing and mitigating compassion fatigue to support the mental health and emotional well-being of healthcare professionals dedicated to helping others in challenging circumstances. Systematic registration: PROSPERO. REG No: CRD42023449462.

Compassion fatigue in healthcare providers: a scoping review

The detrimental impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare providers’ psychological health and well-being continue to affect their professional roles and activities, leading to compassion fatigue. The purpose of this review was to identify and summarize published literature on compassion fatigue among healthcare providers and its impact on patient care. Six databases were searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, for studies on compassion fatigue in healthcare providers, published in English from the peak of the pandemic in 2020 to 2023. To expand the search, reference lists of included studies were hand searched to locate additional relevant studies. The studies primarily focused on nurses, physicians, and other allied health professionals. This scoping review was registered on Open Science Framework (OSF), using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) extension to scoping review. From 11,715 search results, 24 met the inclusion criteria. Findings are presented using four themes: prevalence of compassion fatigue; antecedents of compassion fatigue; consequences of compassion fatigue; and interventions to address compassion fatigue. The potential antecedents of compassion fatigue are grouped under individual-, organization-, and systems-level factors. Our findings suggest that healthcare providers differ in risk for developing compassion fatigue in a country-dependent manner. Interventions such as increasing available personnel helped to minimize the occurrence of compassion fatigue. This scoping review offers important insight on the common causes and potential risks for compassion fatigue among healthcare providers and identifies potential strategies to support healthcare providers’ psychological health and well-being.

Prevalence of compassion fatigue, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and associated factors among nurses working in cancer treatment centers in Ethiopia, 2020

BackgroundOveruse of compassion for those under the care may threaten their professional life. In Ethiopia, there is limited study on the consequences of compassionate care. Therefore, the study assessed the effects of compassionate care among nurses.ObjectiveTo quantify the prevalence of compassion satisfaction, burnout, compassion fatigue, and associated factors among Nurses.MethodsInstitution-based quantitative cross-sectional design was conducted in five randomly selected public hospitals in Ethiopia, from May to April 2020. All the nurses who were working in the cancer treatment centers of the five hospitals were included in the study. Data were collected using a standard self-administer structured question using the Professional Quality of Life Scale (PROQOL) instrument version 5. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS 21version. Descriptively: frequency, mean, standard deviation, and inferential statistics: t-Test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression analysis were computed.ResultThe majority of respondents 154 (67.0%) were female. The age of the participants ranges from 20 to 65 (32.06 + 7.45) years. The mean (SD) scores for the dimensions of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue were 34.41 (6.74), 27.70 (4.24), and 35.83 (7.78) respectively. Neuroticism personality trait had positivity related to compassion fatigue (P = 0.001). Nurses who received low monthly income had significantly lower scores for compassion fatigue (P = 0.002). We found friend support, openness, sex, and agreeableness explained 32.7% (p < 0.024) of the variances in compassion satisfaction.ConclusionIn general the study found high compassion fatigue and low compassion satisfaction. Further, having low income and neuroticism personality were related to compassion fatigue, while agreeableness, consciousness, and openness personality were related to compassion satisfaction. Therefore, attention should be given to nurses working in cancer centers to ensure positive energy.

Prevalence and Predictive Factors of Compassion Fatigue among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: Implications for Well-Being and Support.

Compassion fatigue (CF) poses significant challenges to healthcare workers' (HCWs) well-being. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CF and identify its predictive factors among HCWs in all regions of Saudi Arabia (SA). As such, all HCWs from different disciplines in different centers were allowed to participate, resulting in 678 participants. The study tool, distributed between October 2022 and January 2023, consisted of a questionnaire created by the authors based on the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). The ProQOL measures the positive (compassion satisfaction [CS]) and negative (CF) effects of helping those who have suffered, noting that burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) are the two subscales that constitute CF. Our findings revealed that 63.9% of HCWs experienced average STS, while 57.2% reported average BO levels. HCWs in the southern and northern regions exhibited higher STS (p-value = 0.003 and 0.010, respectively). Physicians displayed higher BO levels (p-value = 0.024). Higher levels of CS were found among older HCWs (p-value = 0.001) and lower levels among those with more years of experience (p-value = 0.004). Support at work and job, life, and financial income satisfaction were significantly and positively correlated with CS and negatively correlated with BO and STS. These findings highlight the need for tailored awareness campaigns targeting HCWs, particularly physicians, to promote well-being, enhance coping skills, and foster problem-solving techniques. Keywords: burnout; compassion fatigue; compassion satisfaction; healthcare workers; professional quality of life; Saudi Arabia; secondary traumatic stress; medical trainees' well-being.

The Impact of Caring for COVID-19 Patients on Compassion and Burnout at Two New York Hospitals

Compassion fatigue and burnout are prevalent in nursing, which is widely recognized as a stressful profession. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the awareness and prevalence of compassion fatigue and burnout in nursing, which may contribute to nurses leaving patient-facing roles. The aim of this study was to describe and compare compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout among nursing staff at two New York hospitals&mdash;a community Magnet hospital and a tertiary care non-Magnet hospital&mdash;following a prolonged period of caring for patients with COVID-19. Compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout were measured using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale. There was no statistically significant difference between hospitals in compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, however the community hospital had a significantly higher level of burnout, which could be attributed to the younger age and fewer years of experience among nurses at that facility.

The Prevalence of Compassion Fatigue among Oncology Healthcare Professionals in Three Public Healthcare Facilities in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Compassion fatigue (CF) is a serious global challenge among healthcare professionals dealing with diseases with poor health outcomes in clinical settings. Chronic exposure to the suffering of others is inevitable in the oncology setting and remains one of the main contributors to CF. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence of CF among oncology healthcare professionals (OHPs) in three public healthcare facilities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 73 OHPs using the Professional Quality of Life Scale version 5 questionnaire, and the data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. More than half (56.2%) of the participants reported average scores for CF, with 43.8% of them scoring low. The participants from Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital had the highest CF mean score (26.8) compared to those from Addington Hospital (21.2) and Greys Hospital (22.9). Female OHPs had a higher mean score (24.3) for CF, compared to their male counterparts (20.6). The CF scores were positively correlated with older age and longer work experience of the OHPs. The prevalence of CF among OHPs was average, compared to those reported by other local and international studies. Nevertheless, these results cannot be taken lightly, given the straining effects of unmanaged CF on the healthcare system generally and on patient care in particular. The results of this study can potentially contribute to policy development and the planning of intervention strategies towards the effective management of CF among OHPs.

Compassion Fatigue in Nurses: The Role of Spiritual Well-Being, Emotion Regulation and Time Perspective.

Nurses experience many psychological problems in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Compassion Fatigue (CF) in nurses and the role of Spiritual Well-being (SW), Emotion Regulation (ER), and Time Perspective (TP) in predicting it. The research method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical samples of this study included 394 nurses in Iran who were selected by the census sampling method. The sub-scale of CF from the Professional Quality of Life Scale, SW questionnaire, ER, and the short form of TP questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance tests were used to analyze the data. The prevalence of CF in nurses in the COVID-19 outbreak was 59.39%. CF in female nurses was higher than that in male nurses (F3,392 = 15.23, p < 0.001); in married nurses, it was higher than that in single nurses (F3,392 = 14.23, p < 0.001); and in nurses on fixed shifts, it was higher than that in nurses on rotating shifts (F3,392 = 5.63, p < 0.001). Also, CF in the emergency nurses, intensive care unit nurses, and coronary care unit nurses working under COVID-19 pandemic was higher than that in the emergency nurses and nurses who worked in other wards (F3,388 = 14.31, p < 0.001). The results of hierarchical regression showed that SW, ER, and positive past negatively and suppression, present-fatalistic, negative past, and negative future positively predicted the CF (p < 0.001). Based on the results, programs and psychological trainings based on SW, ER, and TP are suggested to reduce CF in nurses in the COVID-19 outbreak.

Prevalence of Compassion Fatigue and Its Association with Professional Identity in Junior College Nursing Interns: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The issue of compassion fatigue among clinical nurses has received considerable attention, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the current status of compassion fatigue among junior college nursing interns remains unclear. Additionally, professional identity can modulate the impact of compassion fatigue or burnout on psychological well-being; however, whether professional identity still works in this group is also unclear. This study aimed to reveal the current status of compassion fatigue among nursing interns in junior colleges and also investigate the association between compassion fatigue and professional identity. Methods: This cross-sectional survey evaluated the levels of participants' compassion fatigue (The Compassion Fatigue Short Scale) and professional identity (Professional Identity Scale) in 2256 nursing interns. Results: The mean score of compassion fatigue was 44.99, and 19.5% of the participants scored above The Compassion Fatigue Short Scale median scores for compassion fatigue. A moderate negative correlation was detected between compassion fatigue and professional identity. Conclusions: The level of compassion fatigue among nursing interns is low but nearly one in five nursing students is at risk of compassion fatigue. More attention should be paid to nursing interns with a high risk of compassion fatigue. Future studies are warranted to explore which pathways could mediate the relationship between professional identify and comparison fatigue.

Quantifying Compassion Fatigue in Ancillary and Clinical Staff in an Adult Emergency Department.

Emergency department (ED) staff are at a high risk for compassion fatigue (CF) due to a work environment that combines high patient acuity, violence, and other workplace stressors. This multifaceted syndrome has wide-ranging impacts which, if left untreated, can lead to adverse mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. However, the majority of studies examining CF look solely at clinicians; as a result, there is little information on the impact of CF across other roles involved in supporting patient care. We conducted this study to establish the prevalence of CF across both clinical and non-clinical roles in the adult ED setting. For this single institution, cross-sectional study, all full- and part-time ED staff members who worked at least 50% of their shifts in the ED or within the adult trauma service line were eligible to participate. Using the Professional Quality of Life Scale, which measures CF via compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS), we assessed for group differences between roles using non-parametric one-way ANOVA. A total of 152 participants (response rate = 38.0%) completed the survey. This included attending physicians (n = 15, 9.7%), resident/fellow physicians (n = 23, 15.1%), staff nurses (n = 54, 35.5%), emergency technicians (n = 21, 13.8%), supportive clinical staff (n = 28, 18.4%), and supportive ancillary staff (n = 11, 7.2%). Across all roles, the majority of respondents had average levels of BO (median = 25.0, interquartile range [IQR] 20.0-29.0) and STS (median = 23.0, IQR 18.0-27.0) coupled with high levels of CS (median = 38.0, IQR 33.0-43.0). There was a difference in CS by role (P = .01), with nurses reporting lower CS than attending physicians. Secondary traumatic stress also differed by role (P = .01), with attending physicians reporting lower STS than both emergency technicians and nurses. Group differences were not seen in BO. Rates of compassion fatigue subcomponents were similar across all ED team members, including non-clinical staff. Programs to identify and mitigate CF should be implemented and extended to all roles within the ED.

The prevalence and influencing factors for compassion fatigue among nurses in Fangcang shelter hospitals: A cross-sectional study.

We aim to investigate the prevalence and associated factors for compassion fatigue among nurses in Fangcang Shelter Hospitals in Wuhan. Studies have shown that compassion fatigue was more common among nurses than other health-care providers, and its predictors were also different. In recent years, most studies have investigated compassion fatigue in emergency and oncology nurses, whereas there is little information on compassion fatigue among nurses from the frontline of Fangcang Shelter Hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used in this study. An online survey was conducted among nurses (n = 972) of five Fangcang Shelter Hospitals in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, from 6 March to 10 March 2020. A self-administered questionnaire including demographic information, work-related information, General Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale and Compassion Fatigue Scale was used. The prevalence of compassion fatigue among nurses in Fangcang Shelter Hospitals was moderate, and most cases were mild. There was a significant relationship between compassion fatigue and work-related factors, mental health and perceived stress among nurses working in Fangcang Shelter Hospitals. Various factors contribute to compassion fatigue, including lower job satisfaction and job adaptability, less praise from patients, more fear of infection and more perceived stress. A good working atmosphere, organizational support and psychological consultation are essential to alleviate nurses' compassion fatigue during the anti-epidemic period.

Prevalence of compassion fatigue among helping professions and relationship to compassion for others, self-compassion and self-criticism.

Helping professionals are at high risk of being affected by the negative aspects of helping such as compassion fatigue. To date, no study has provided a comprehensive overview of compassion fatigue and compared the prevalence among different helping professions. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and differences in compassion fatigue among different helping professions. We also wanted to explore the relationship between compassion, self-compassion, self-criticism and compassion fatigue. Six hundred and seven participants working in the helping professions were recruited. The sample consisted of 102 nurses, 44 doctors, 57 paramedics, 39 home nurses, 66 teachers, 103 psychologists, 40 psychotherapists and coaches, 76 social workers, 39 priests and pastors and 41 police officers. The data were collected using an online questionnaire battery measuring levels of compassion, self-compassion, self-criticism, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. We found significant differences in compassion fatigue levels among various helping professions. No large differences were found in the compassion and self-compassion levels exhibited by professionals with medium versus low compassion fatigue scores. However, participants with higher levels of compassion fatigue scored higher in self-criticism. Self-criticism was found to be the best predictor of compassion fatigue. The effect of profession on compassion fatigue as mediated by self-criticism and self-compassion was significant. Based on the results, we recommend designing programs to combat compassion fatigue that teach helping professionals to better manage their work time and workload (hours per week with clients/patients) and learn healthier inner talk (less self-critical and more self-compassionate).

Compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout during a pandemic

Background:Work-related mental health issues in New Zealand are increasing yearly and impact on how employees are able to cope with day-to-day pressures and work productivity. Work-related mental health issues are especially prevalent during times of great stress such as the coronavirus pandemic.Aim:In this study, the prevalence of compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction were assessed using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale and a range of demographic and descriptive questions.Methods:The ProQOL is a Likert-style survey for those in human- or animal care roles, such as veterinary nurses. It measures compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction, rating the scores as low, moderate, or high risk. The survey was hosted via an online survey website for 6 weeks.Results:The survey received 166 usable responses. The average scores indicated moderate risk for most respondents for compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction.Conclusion:This research indicates that New Zealand's veterinary nurses show similar levels of compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction to international results in veterinary nurses assessed prior to the coronavirus pandemic, indicating that New Zealand veterinary nurses coped remarkably well during the global catastrophe.

A cross-sectional analysis of compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction in pediatric surgeons in the U.S.

Background/PurposeTo determine the prevalence of compassion fatigue (CF), burnout (BO), and compassion satisfaction (CS) and identify potential predictors of these phenomena in pediatric surgeons. MethodsThe Compassion Fatigue and Satisfaction Self-Test and a survey of personal/professional characteristics were distributed electronically to American Pediatric Surgical Association members. Linear regression models for CF, BO, and CS as a function of potential risk factors were constructed. ResultsThe analyzeable study response rate was 25.7%. The prevalence of CF, BO, and CS was 22%, 24% and 22, respectively, which were similar to prevalences previously identified in pediatric subspecialists. Higher CF scores were significantly associated with: higher BO scores; solo practice; compensation; ≥5 operating days/week; current distress about a ‘clinical situation’; mental health-care for work-related distress; and history of childhood surgery. Lower CF scores were significantly associated with ‘talking with a life partner’ about work-related distress. Higher BO scores were significantly associated with: higher CF scores; current distress about ‘coworkers’; and ‘keeping lawsuits confidential’. Lower BO scores were significantly associated with higher CS scores. ConclusionsCF, BO, and CS are distinct but highly related entities. Pediatric surgeons experience these phenomena at similar rates to other pediatric subspecialists. Establishing local channels for physician peer support may be particularly impactful.

Prevalence and factors of compassion fatigue among nurse in China: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Compassion fatigue is defined as a detrimental consequence of experiencing work-related stress among nurses, which can affect the job performance and harm emotional and physical health. The high risk of compassion fatigue among nurses may be even more severe in China. Although several studies have explored the prevalence and factors of compassion fatigue among Chinese nurses, most data derived merely from the specialty units of the hospital or limited samples, and there is a large heterogeneity among studies. Thus, it is indispensable to systematically summarize the risk factors and prevalence of compassion fatigue among clinical nurse in China.Methods:Two reviewers will independently conduct comprehensively searches in 9 electronic databases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Web of science, MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang and Chinese Biological Medical Database (CBM) with no search date restriction. Cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies that described the prevalence and factors of Chinese nurses compassion fatigue will be eligible for inclusion. The risk of bias and methodological quality of individual study will be assessed using an adapted quality assessment tool from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Stata 16.0 software will be used for meta-analysis.Results:The primary outcome will be the prevalence of 3 dimension of compassion fatigue in Chinese nurses. The secondary outcomes will be comparisons of compassion fatigue scores among Chinese nurse of different education background, marital status, employment forms and professional titles.Conclusion:This overview will contribute to reveal the prevalence and influencing factors in compassion fatigue among Chinese nurses and provide a scientific evidence for the prediction and prevention in compassion fatigue.Registration number:The registration DOI is 10.17605/OSF.IO/V34X6.

Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue among Violence Intervention Caseworkers

Violence intervention programs aim to help clients overcome trauma, but, due to the demands of their profession, caseworkers are at risk for experiencing low compassion satisfaction and high compassion fatigue. This cross-sectional study sought to describe the prevalence of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary traumatic stress [STS]) among 93 caseworkers. Participants completed the Professional Quality of Life Survey at a conference for a national network of hospital-based violence intervention programs in September 2018. Results displayed high compassion satisfaction across demographic groups, while participants significantly differed in compassion fatigue by years of experience and workplace setting. Caseworkers who had been working in their profession for 6–10 years experienced higher levels of burnout than those working fewer years (p = 0.02). Further, caseworkers employed in a single program setting experienced significantly lower levels of STS than those who work in both a community and hospital setting (p = 0.01). This analysis stands in contrast to previous studies showing higher levels of compassion fatigue in younger, and less experienced healthcare workers. Further studies are warranted to determine how the prevalence of compassion fatigue in victim advocates compares to those of other healthcare providers and which interventions can best promote compassion satisfaction.

Professional Quality of Life among Occupational Therapy Practitioners: An Exploratory Study of Compassion Fatigue

We examined the prevalence of compassion fatigue among occupational therapy practitioners. An online survey was developed incorporating the professional quality of life (ProQoL) which has three subscales. Among the 76 respondents, the majority of them reported high compassion satisfaction (52.6%), low burnout (60.5%), and low secondary traumatic stress (78.9%). Participants’ age, years of experience, practice setting, or time spent in direct client care were not associated with the level of subscale scores. The results are discussed in the context of occupational therapy core values and beliefs as well as job options provided by the profession.

High Civic-Mindedness Reduces Compassion Fatigue in the First 3 Years of Professional Physical Therapist Practice: A Pilot Study.

Introduction:Clinicians with compassion fatigue (CF) experience behavioral, cognitive, and emotional changes due to repeated exposure to second-hand trauma from the clients with whom they are working. A civic-minded professional possesses the core value of social responsibility. Physical therapy (PT) education programs must balance a focus on developing social responsibility and compassion against the risk of CF.Objective:The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the prevalence of CF in a sample of physical therapists in the early years of practice and (2) to determine whether higher civic-mindedness leads to the development of CF in physical therapists.Method:Three cohorts of recent graduates were administered the Professional Quality of Life (Pro-QOL) survey to measure CF. Thirty-five of 127 surveys sent (27.6% response rate) were completed.Results:A Mann-Whitney U was run to determine differences in the Pro-QOL survey between those scoring high or low in civic-mindedness at graduation. Higher civic-mindedness scores exhibited significantly lower burnout and higher compassion satisfaction.Conclusion:Higher levels of civic-mindedness appear to have a protective effect against developing CF.

Compassion fatigue in critical care nurses. An integrative review of the literature.

Objectives:To provides a critical evaluation of current empirical evidence related to the prevalence, causes and outcomes of compassion fatigue among critical care nurses. Compassion fatigue is characterized the development of emotional, physical, and/or spiritual exhaustion as a result of working with traumatized individuals.Methods:Data was collected using an integrated review framework via an advanced search of healthcare databases; namely, ProQuest, Science Direct, and CINAHL for research articles on compassion fatigue among nurses in critical care settings. Analysis was performed on the articles which met the inclusion criteria for this review (n=10) to identify the key themes and issues related to the compassion fatigue in critical care situations. Articles were assessed for quality and rigor using the Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. The search was limited to research studies undertaken from 2000 to 2018.Results:The main findings to emerge from this integrative review was that the prevalence of compassion fatigue among nurses varied across the range of critical care settings. In terms of the causes and consequences of compassion fatigue, this review found work environment and nurse demographics such as age and years of experience, were predictors of compassion fatigue, and the factors mitigating compassion fatigue affects among critical nurse included leader and administrative support within the clinical setting and the coping strategies employed by the nurses.Conclusion:There is inconclusive evidence to identify unequivocal predictors of compassion fatigue among critical nurses. However, it is likely the onset of compassion fatigue among critical care nurses may be reduced with close monitoring of physical and emotional wellbeing in the critical care environment as well as through the provision of education to nurses to assist with the development of coping strategies to avoid compassion fatigue.