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Annals of General Psychiatry

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01-12-2020 | Care | Primary research

Oncology nurses’ compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction

Authors: Reem Ahmad Jarrad, Sawsan Hammad

Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

For oncology nurses, compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfactions are frequently experienced psychosocial consequences of the oncology work environment. Surveying such phenomena helps to understand how nurses feel and behave when cancer care is provided. Besides, tracking the evolving nature of those three concepts can lend a hand for the early detection of personal and professional suffering of nurses while offering some healing remedies to their struggling bodies and souls.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the level of compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction among a group of specialized oncology nurses. Besides, this study aimed to detect some probable interesting inferences between compassion satisfaction and the concept of rest and leisure. Correlations between compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction were investigated. Correlations between oncology nurses’ scores on the three subscales and a group of demographic, organizational and leisure-related variables were examined.

Methods

This study adopted a descriptive correlation design to survey compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction among a convenient sample of 100 oncology nurses who work in a specialized cancer care centre. Participants completed compassion fatigue self-test developed by Figely (Compassion fatigue, New York: Brunner/Mazel. B. HudnallStamm, Traumatic Stress Research Group; 1995–1998. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~bhstamm/index.htm, 1995) and a literature-based demographic survey. Analysis of data included descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation co-efficient.

Results

Nurses reported a low level of compassion satisfaction, moderate risk for burn out and an extremely high risk for compassion fatigue. Results revealed significant negative relationships among compassion satisfaction and the number of dependents per nurse. Additionally the correlation between compassion satisfaction and the nurses’ number of hours slept was positive. Only two components of the concept rest and leisure yielded statistical significance when correlated to the concept of compassion satisfaction. A significant negative relationship was observed between compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue while a strong positive relationship was observed between compassion fatigue and burn out.

Conclusions

The studied oncology nurses sample had evidently low level of compassion satisfaction when contrasted to the significantly increased risks of burn out and compassion fatigue. Thus, health authorities and management are advised to care, in a holistic approach, for nurses who work in oncology departments. Staff-oriented services that offer comfort, reward, leisure, screening, consultation and support are urgently recommended.

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Title: Oncology nurses’ compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction
Authors: Reem Ahmad Jarrad
Sawsan Hammad
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Care
Burnout Syndrome
Fatigue
Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1744-859X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-020-00272-9

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Springer Medicine

Oncology nurses’ compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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