Secondary Traumatic Stress among Medical Doctors and Nurses Working in the Intensive and Critical Care Units of Hospitals of Ulaanbaatar During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction: This study investigated the relationship between compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among Iranian nurses working in critical care units. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive survey using the Professional Quality of Life instrument was administered to 400 nurses working in the intensive care units of Iranian hospitals. Results: High risk levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress existed among 42% and 96% of participants, respectively. Significant positive relationships were detected between burnout and secondary traumatic stress. An inverse relationship was detected between measures of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. Discussion: To ensure culturally congruent care, it is important to evaluate professional quality of life within the context of specific cultures and societies. Iranian critical care nurses are at risk for burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Personal self-care and organizational wellness approaches that consider cultural norms should be designed to boost compassion satisfaction and reduce negative effects of stressful work environments.

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Doctors’ and nurses’ views and experience of transferring patients from critical care home to die: A qualitative exploratory study

Palliative Medicine ◽

10.1177/0269216314560208 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 354-362 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Maureen Coombs ◽

Tracy Long-Sutehall ◽

Anne-Sophie Darlington ◽

Alison Richardson

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

United Kingdom ◽

End Of Life ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Care Home ◽

Rare Event ◽

Community Services ◽

Critical Care Units ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Doctors And Nurses

Background: Dying patients would prefer to die at home, and therefore a goal of end-of-life care is to offer choice regarding where patients die. However, whether it is feasible to offer this option to patients within critical care units and whether teams are willing to consider this option has gained limited exploration internationally. Aim: To examine current experiences of, practices in and views towards transferring patients in critical care settings home to die. Design: Exploratory two-stage qualitative study Setting/participants: Six focus groups were held with doctors and nurses from four intensive care units across two large hospital sites in England, general practitioners and community nurses from one community service in the south of England and members of a Patient and Public Forum. A further 15 nurses and 6 consultants from critical care units across the United Kingdom participated in follow-on telephone interviews. Findings: The practice of transferring critically ill patients home to die is a rare event in the United Kingdom, despite the positive view of health care professionals. Challenges to service provision include patient care needs, uncertain time to death and the view that transfer to community services is a complex, highly time-dependent undertaking. Conclusion: There are evidenced individual and policy drivers promoting high-quality care for all adults approaching the end of life encompassing preferred place of death. While there is evidence of this choice being honoured and delivered for some of the critical care population, it remains debatable whether this will become a conventional practice in end of life in this setting.

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Compassion Fatigue in Critical Care Nurses: An Educational Quality Improvement Project

10.28971/532021tn101 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Natasha Teixeira

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Quality Improvement ◽

Compassion Fatigue ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽

Compassion Satisfaction ◽

Critical Care Nurses ◽

Quality Improvement Project ◽

Improvement Project ◽

Educational Session

Compassion fatigue is estimated to affect 40% percent of the 2.9 million registered nurses in the United States. There exists a critical need to explore how nurses understand compassion fatigue, how they identify it in self and others, and what strategies they enact to lessen the eventual threats to health. With the current COVID pandemic, along with the high intensity nature of the intensive care unit (ICU), critical care nurses are vulnerable to the symptoms and side effects of compassion fatigue. This quality improvement project evaluated the impact of an educational session on compassion fatigue and self-care in relation to critical care nurses’ perceived levels of compassion fatigue. Pre education session and post educational session Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL-5) survey measuring perceived levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, were administered to a sample of critical care nurses in a community hospital in Massachusetts. The educational session was conducted via a virtual audio-enabled PowerPoint presentation. Pre and post education scores were assessed between time points to determine if the education was successful at decreasing perceived level of compassion fatigue. Post ProQOL scores presented a 6.76% increase in level compassion satisfaction, 3.28% decrease in level of burnout, and an 8.66% decrease in level of secondary traumatic stress. This project illustrates the potential for targeted education with critical care nurses as a vulnerable group who experience higher levels of compassion fatigue as a group. Strategies to reduce the effects of compassion fatigue have the potential to improve mental and emotional health essential for continual safe patient care with more positive outcomes in the critical care area.

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A national survey exploring views and experience of health professionals about transferring patients from critical care home to die

Palliative Medicine ◽

10.1177/0269216315570407 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 363-370 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Anne-Sophie E. Darlington ◽

Tracy Long-Sutehall ◽

Alison Richardson ◽

Maureen A. Coombs

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Care Home ◽

Professional Role ◽

National Study ◽

Web Based ◽

Critical Care Units ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Doctors And Nurses

Background: Transferring critically ill patients home to die is poorly explored in the literature to date. This practice is rare, and there is a need to understand health care professionals’ (HCP) experience and views. Objectives: To examine (1) HCPs’ experience of transferring patients home to die from critical care, (2) HCPs’ views about transfer and (3) characteristics of patients, HCPs would hypothetically consider transferring home to die. Design: A national study developing a web-based survey, which was sent to the lead doctors and nurses in critical care units. Setting/participants: Lead doctors and senior nurses (756 individuals) working in 409 critical care units across the United Kingdom were invited to participate in the survey. Results: In total, 180 (23.8%) completed surveys were received. A total of 65 (36.1%) respondents had been actively involved in transferring patients home to die and 28 (15.5%) had been involved in discussions that did not lead to transfer. Respondents were supportive of the idea of transfer home to die (88.8%). Patients identified by respondents as unsuitable for transfer included unstable patients (61.8%), intubated and ventilated patients (68.5%) and patients receiving inotropes (65.7%). There were statistically significant differences in views between those with and without experience and between doctors and nurses. Nurses and those with experience tended to have more positive views. Conclusion: While transferring patients home to die is supported in critical care, its frequency in practice remains low. Patient stability and level of intervention are important factors in decision-making in this area. Views held about this practice are influenced by previous experience and the professional role held.

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Professional Quality of Life among Medical Doctors Working in Kathmandu: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Journal of Nepal Medical Association ◽

10.31729/jnma.5330 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (231) ◽

Author(s):

Anju Vaidya ◽

Shristi Karki ◽

Meghnath Dhimal ◽

Pradip Gyanwali ◽

Dibash Baral ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽

Compassion Satisfaction ◽

Kathmandu Valley ◽

Medical Doctors ◽

Professional Quality Of Life ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Professional Quality

Introduction: The practice of medicine is an honorable profession besides being accompanied by a demanding environment. This study aimed to find out the professional quality of life of medical doctors working in Kathmandu valley. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 174 Nepalese medical doctors working in different hospitals of Kathmandu valley. Ethical approval was taken from the Ethical Review Board of the Nepal Health Research Council (Reference Number: 830). The data collection tool used in the study was WHO Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 to collect data about Compassion satisfaction, Burnout and Secondary traumatic stress among medical doctors working in Kathmandu valley. Data analysis was done in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16.0. Results: Out of 174 participants, 101 (58%), 126 (72.4%) and 135 (77.6%) were found to have moderate level of Compassion satisfaction, Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress respectively. Conclusions: More than half, nearly two-third, and more than two-third participants had moderate levels of Compassion satisfaction, Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress respectively. The overall study findings reflected good balance between Compassion satisfaction and Compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary traumatic stress) among the Nepalese medical doctors. Further assessment of professional quality of life of doctors as well as other health care workers via Multifaceted and large-scale study is recommended.

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Effect of Meaningful Recognition on Critical Care Nurses’ Compassion Fatigue

American Journal of Critical Care ◽

10.4037/ajcc2017471 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 438-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Lesly A. Kelly ◽

Cindy Lefton

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Compassion Fatigue ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Intent To Leave ◽

Secondary Trauma ◽

Compassion Satisfaction ◽

Critical Care Nurses ◽

Quality Of Life Scale

Background As caregivers in high-pressure environments, critical care nurses are at risk for burnout and secondary trauma—components of compassion fatigue. Recent findings have increased understanding of the phenomena, specifically that satisfaction and meaningful recognition may play a role in reducing burnout and raising compassion satisfaction; however, no large multisite studies of compassion fatigue have been conducted. Objectives To examine the effect of meaningful recognition and other predictors on compassion fatigue in a multicenter national sample of critical care nurses. Methods A quantitative, descriptive online survey was completed by 726 intensive care unit nurses in 14 hospitals with an established meaningful recognition program and 410 nurses in 10 hospitals without such a program. Site coordinators at each hospital coordinated distribution of the survey to nurses to assess multiple predictors against outcomes, measured by the Professional Quality of Life Scale. Cross-validation and linear regression modeling were conducted to determine significant predictors of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction. Results Similar levels of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, compassion satisfaction, overall satisfaction, and intent to leave were reported by nurses in hospitals with and without meaningful recognition programs. Meaningful recognition was a significant predictor of decreased burnout and increased compassion satisfaction. Additionally, job satisfaction and job enjoyment were highly predictive of decreased burnout, decreased secondary traumatic stress, and increased compassion satisfaction. Conclusions In addition to acknowledging and valuing nurses’ contributions to care, meaningful recognition could reduce burnout and boost compassion satisfaction.

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