Comparison of Compassion Fatigue, Burnout and Compassion Satisfaction of Oncology-Hematology & Dialysis Nurses

Abstract

Background: It is known that health professionals who work with chronic patients for a long time are at risk in terms of compassion fatigue and burnout. Purpose: The study aims to compare the levels of compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction of nurses working on oncology-hematology and dialysis and determine the predictors. Methods: This study was carried out using descriptive and correlational research design. The research was conducted with 278 nurses. Participants were enrolled using a convenience sampling technique from the oncology–hematology inpatient services, outpatient chemotherapy units, and bone marrow transplant units and dialysis nurses of purposively selected hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey. Personal information form and Professional Quality of Life-IV. Potential predictors were analyzed using univariate analysis. We conducted multiple stepwise linear regression analyses to reveal the outcome variables. Results: A sub-analysis comparing the dialysis specialty with the oncology-hematology revealed that dialysis nurses report significantly higher compassion fatigue scores than oncology nurses. Working willingly in the current unit and the level of received social support were determined as predictors for all outcome variables. Conclusions: This is the first study comparing compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction levels of oncology-hematology and dialysis nurses. This study indicates the need for nurse managers to be aware of compassion fatigue and plan compassion fatigue prevention programs. In addition, this study guides the interventional studies to be conducted in the future.