Finding compassion when compassion fatigued

Abstract

Background: The unrelenting turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on those in the healthcare field. This chronic stress has resulted in depleted compassion towards those we serve and with whom we work. Researchers have suggested that empathy is a finite resource that must be replenished. For physicians in residency training, where finding meaning and purpose in their work is already a challenge, the spark for medicine and helping others may have been extinguished. Purpose: This article will explore interventions implemented in two family medicine residency programs to address concerns of burnout and compassion fatigue inflated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Research Design: This article uses a qualitative research approach through case studies of two family medicine programs and the use of several interventions to mitigate burnout and compassion fatigue during the pandemic. Study Sample: Participants in the interventions describe in this article include 36 family medicine residents from “Residency 1” and 36 family medicine residents from “Residency 2.” Analysis: The authors describe several interventions used in their two programs to reduce issues of compassion fatigue including: meditation, gratitude practice, guided group support, and a focus on physical health. Results: Feedback from residents and the programs described suggest that the interventions were useful tools to help physicians navigate their new normal as they began practicing during a pandemic and reduce burnout and challenges with compassion fatigue. A strategic plan is outlined in this article to help other programs implement some of these strategies. Conclusions: It is imperative that programs continue to implement interventions to have residents practice wellness to reduce compassion fatigue as continue to navigate new stressors that came with the Covid-19 pandemic.