Level of compassion fatigue and associated factors among nurses working at comprehensive specialized hospitals in northwest Amhara region, Ethiopia 2022

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Nurses are the largest and most important professionals group in the health care sector, and are at risk of developing compassion fatigue. Gaining a better understanding of compassion fatigue and what drives it helps to promote intervention programs aimed at reducing the occurrence of compassion fatigue among nurses. Compassion fatigue is common among nurses, and there are a number of reasons that contribute to its occurrence. Identifying these elements will aid in the development of effective preventative mechanisms. Method: Institutional based cross sectional study design was conducted among nurses working at Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Northwest amhara region. A simple random sampling method was used to select participants. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was entered using Epi info version 7.2.5 software, then exported and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The outcome variable of the study was compassion fatigue transformed into low, medium and high level. Ordinal logistic regression was fitted. Variables with a p value < 0.25 at the bivariable regression analysis level were included in the final multivariable regression model. The model fitness was tested using deviances -2loglikhood ratio reveals p-value= 0.000 and goodness of fit was tested by Pearson and deviances chi-square which reveals p-value= (0.269) and (0.278) respectively. Parallel line test result revealed (p-value= 0.211). Result: Out of 423 nurses 410 participants were involved in this study with the response rate of 97%. About 112 (27.3%), 164 (40%) and 134 (32.7%) had low, medium and high level of compassion fatigue respectively. Working shift, training, current working unit, work experience, and work place bullying were associated with compassion fatigue. Conclusion and recommendation: This study showed that nurses experience high level of compassion fatigue. Nurses who had less working experience, working in night and morning shift, training, working in emergency and medical unit and work place bullying were among variables which were significantly associated with level of compassion fatigue. Findings of this study give insights into what should be done to improve the workplace of nurses in northwest Amhara.