The COVID-19 pandemic, psychologists' professional quality of life and mental health

Background

Psychologists are at known risk of work-related stress, secondary trauma, and burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic increased stress and anxiety for communities worldwide and corresponded with an increased demand for mental health services. Our study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on psychologists' professional quality of life, psychological symptoms, and work-related stress in Aotearoa, New Zealand (NZ).

Method

Ninety-nine registered psychologists were recruited via NZ professional psychology organizations, representing 3% of the total workforce. Survey data collected included symptoms of compassion fatigue and satisfaction, psychological symptoms, COVID-19-related stress and resilience, and professional and personal circumstances during the third year of the pandemic, 2022.

Results

Seventy percent reported that their work stress had increased, and 60% reported that their caseload intensity had increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychologists reported receiving little to no additional personal or professional support, while 55% reported increased personal responsibilities during the pandemic (for example, closed childcare and schools during lockdowns). High rates of compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary traumatic stress) and low resilience were reported. We observed that psychological distress was higher than the community averages before the pandemic and comparable with frontline healthcare professionals. Compassion fatigue was associated with COVID-related stress, psychological distress, years in practice, and more frequent supervision, but not with working with at-risk clients, levels of personal support, or having children at home. Despite these difficulties, high Compassion Satisfaction scores were also reported, with over 90% indicating they had no intention of leaving the profession in the foreseeable future.

Conclusion

Psychologists' compassion fatigue appears to have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, as have their symptoms of psychological distress. Increased workplace and clinical demands, telehealth difficulties, stress relating to the pandemic, inadequate support, and increased personal responsibilities were reported by psychologists. Mental health workforces are not immune to the personal and professional impacts of crises and are at risk of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. We hope that increased awareness and understanding of psychologists' own difficulties during COVID-19 can be used to better tackle future crises and support mental health professionals.

Emotional experiences in palliative care and professional quality of life: a qualitative approach

Objective

To explore the experiences that significantly impact the professional quality of life of people providing palliative care (PC) in Ecuador.

Design

Observational cross-sectional qualitative research.

Methods

In September 2022, 10 focus groups were carried out in four cities in Ecuador; each group lasted from 1 to 2 h, was audio recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Recruitment was conducted through convenience sampling, and a total of 71 individuals (15 students, 50 professionals, and 6 volunteers) linked to PC participated. Content analysis with a phenomenological and inductive approach was used to analyze the data.

Results

People recognized their experiences in PC as having positive and negative impacts on their professional quality of life. Experiences were mapped as affecting them at individual, relational, and contextual levels. These experiences included personal growth, opportunity to provide care, teamwork, death-related issues, inability to deal with work-related stress, social acceptance of PC, and dealing with inefficient health systems, among others.

Conclusion

Despite the positive emotions that arise with caring for others, individuals working and volunteering in PC experience situations that influence their professional quality of life. Addressing these factors to increase satisfaction and ease the burden of PC work is essential. Undergraduate education, continuous professional training, and PC teams should incorporate actions to address these factors at all levels, such as teaching coping skills, fostering social support, and increasing awareness of PC.

Relationship between nurses' resilience and quality of professional life

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the resilience levels of nurses and qualit of their professional life.

BACKGROUND

Nurses' resilience level can affect their professional qualityof life. A higher resilience level enables them to manage stress and overcome challanges more effectively leading to enhanced patient care and satisfaction. Coversly, lower resiliance can lead to burnout, negatievly impacting both the nurses' wellbeing and the quality of service delivered to patients.

INTRODUCTION

It is crucial to understand the correlation between the professional life quality and resilience of nurses working in difficult conditions.

METHODS

This correlational study was conducted between September 2021 and February 2022. A total of 276 nurses were included in the study. Data were collected using the Demographic Data Form consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, the Professional Quality-of-Life Scale, and the Resilience Scale for Adults.

RESULTS

The resilience score was above average, and the professional quality of life was high. Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, which are components of professional quality of life, were moderate, and the burnout level was low. A robust positive correlation was observed between resilience and the professional quality of life. The linear regression model showed that choosing the profession unwillingly, dissatisfaction with the unit in which one works, and the level of psychological resilience are independent factors of professional quality of life.

CONCLUSION

According to the findings, high psychological resilience increases the quality of professional life. Resilience, choosing nursing willingly, and liking the unit in which one works are determinants of professional quality of life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY

Enhancing the professional quality of life of nurses has important individual, institutional, and social consequences. Enhancing resilience has the potential to elevate the quality of professional life. Hence, it is important to develop national and international policies and models. Additionally, managers bear significant responsibilities in ensuring a positive work environment. Undoubtedly, having nurses work in units they like, feel happy in, and prefer will increase their professional quality of life and make positive contributions to patient care, the institution, and society.

Nurses' Experience After First Wave of COVID-19: Implications for a Trauma-Informed Workforce

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted nurses worldwide, increasing their risk of burnout and compassion fatigue. Although the literature on nurse deployment has been limited, this study describes nurses' experience and assesses their professional quality of life after the first phase of the pandemic and redeployment efforts.

METHODS

In 2020, nurses returning from their deployment to COVID-19 treatment units were invited to complete the Professional Quality of Life Survey and gather for debrief sessions, referred to as campfires, in which semistructured questions about their experiences were administered among clinical nurses and nurse leaders. Employing a mixed methods design, the authors conducted descriptive statistics for survey responses and inductive thematic analysis to identify emergent themes from open-ended questions.

RESULTS

A total of 19 campfires were held with 278 nurse participants. Of the 278 participants, 220 completed surveys. Of these, 194 (88%) represented 30 nurse leaders and 164 staff nurses. The majority of surveyed nurses in both groups reported compassion satisfaction despite reporting moderate levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Qualitative themes from campfires with clinical nurses and nurse leaders revealed similarities, such as concern for safety and lack of choices and transparency, although each group faced unique challenges.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings related to post deployment and adverse psychological health suggest that a trauma-informed approach (ie, staff autonomy, physical and psychological safety, transparency, offering choices, leveraging voices, and collaboration) by leaders could enhance a culture of wellness, build resilience, and mitigate empathic burnout and also proactively and strategically thinking about preventive measures for future catastrophic events.

Exploring key job demands and resources in Norwegian child mental health services: a cross-sectional study of associations with and relationship between compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress and turnover intention

Background

Burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and high turnover rates among child mental health clinicians are a challenge, not only for the individual therapist and the organization but also for the successful implementation of evidence-based practices. However, little is known about which and how job-and implementation-related factors are associated with burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and turnover intention as well as compassion satisfaction among child therapists. In the present study, we aimed to explore these factors and related mechanisms by integrating the "professional quality of life" and the "job demands-resources" models of occupational health.

Methods

We measured the perceived professional quality of life and turnover intention among a national sample of 256 therapists working in Norwegian Child and Adolescence Mental Health Clinics (n = 44) that implemented Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT). Seventeen Job-and implementation-related resources and demands were also measured using the General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work and the Implementation Component Questionnaire. Path analysis was used to test whether burnout and compassion satisfaction mediate the relationship between job demands and resources on one hand, and secondary traumatic stress and turnover intention on the other hand.

Results and discussion

Results revealed that two job resources, i.e., positive challenges at work and mastery of work, were significant predictors of all professional outcomes. The proposed model was only partly supported. That is, while burnout did mediate the relationship between some job demands (i.e., work-family interference and role conflict) and job resources (i.e., human resource primacy, positive challenges, and mastery of work) with secondary traumatic stress and turnover intention, compassion satisfaction did not mediate the relationship between job resources and turnover intention. Moreover, in addition to their indirect effects via burnout, role conflict and organizational climate (human resource primacy) also directly affected turnover intention. These findings propose that interventions that reduce burnout should be prioritized to improve the professional quality of life and turnover intention among child therapists. Theoretically, it seems that compassion satisfaction and work engagement act differently.

Exposure to Traumatic Events at Work, Post-Traumatic Symptoms, and Professional Quality of Life among Italian Midwives: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, following exposure to traumatic events, in Italian midwives and their consequent influence on the quality of midwives' professional lives. In addition, data were collected on the major traumatic events described by midwives.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study related the socio-demographic characteristics of 286 midwives with the scores obtained on two assessment scales, one for post-traumatic stress disorder (IES-R) and the other for quality of life (ProQOL V). The percentage of midwives who obtained a score higher than the predetermined threshold value in both questionnaires was noted, and the correlations that emerged were highlighted. Through this qualitative method, their significant work-related traumatic events were investigated to finally detect the prevalence percentage of each category.

RESULTS

The proportion of midwives scoring higher than 33 on the IES-R scale, indicating a higher likelihood of PTSD, was 48.6%. Freelancers or outpatient clinic midwives had lower mean IES scores (p = 0.049). A significant inverse correlation was observed between age and IES-R score and between the compassion satisfaction subscale and time since completing education (p = 0.028). A comparison between the IES-R and ProQOL scales showed a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001), in particular, between the burnout (BO) (p < 0.001) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) (p < 0.001) subscales. The thematic categorization of traumatic events included mother/child death, mother/child medical complications, relational problems with patients or team members, and organizational problems/medical staff's inexperience.

CONCLUSIONS

The emerging data may confirm the data in the literature, namely those showing that midwives are prone to developing work-related PTSD, particularly due to their exposure to traumatic events such as maternal and neonatal death.

Professional quality of life, psychological well-being, and work engagement of healthcare professionals in two Greek hospitals during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of healthcare professionals has emerged as an issue of great concern.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the levels of professional quality of life, psychological well-being, and work engagement among healthcare professionals in two Greek hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2021 in two public hospitals in Greece. To assess the levels of professional quality of life, psychological well-being, and work engagement, respondents completed the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 (ProQOL-V), the Psychological Well-being (PWB) scale, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-17).

RESULTS

A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed, and 102 were returned (response rate: 68%). It was found that as burnout levels increased, the levels of work engagement decreased (rho = -0.36, p-value <  0.01). Higher levels of compassion satisfaction were associated with higher work engagement (rho = 0.48, p-value <  0.01). Multivariable analysis revealed that healthcare personnel's contact with patients or service users exposed to or who have experienced traumatic events was associated with less positive relationships with others (and, consequently, lower levels of psychological well-being) (p-value = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare professionals in the two public hospitals in Greece, experienced moderate levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their psychological well-being was also found to be moderate, and their levels of work engagement were moderate to high. Supporting the physical and psychological well-being of healthcare professionals is essential for their ability to provide high-quality care in times of crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interventions for Compassion Fatigue in Healthcare Providers-A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Compassion fatigue is a significant issue considering its consequences including negative feelings, impaired cognition, and increased risk of long-term morbidities. We aimed to assess current evidence on the effects of interventions for compassion fatigue in healthcare providers (HCP).

METHODS

We used the Cochrane methodology for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for conducting and reporting this review.

RESULTS

Fifteen RCTs (n = 1740) were included. The sample size of individual studies was small ranging from 23 to 605. There was significant heterogeneity in participant, intervention, control, and outcome characteristics. The tools for assessing intervention effects on compassion fatigue included ProQOL, compassion fatigue scale, and nurses compassion fatigue inventory. Thirteen out of the fifteen included RCTs had overall high risk of bias (ROB). Meta-analysis could not be performed given the significant heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence on interventions for reducing compassion fatigue in HCPs is inadequate. Given the benefits reported in some of the included studies, well-designed and adequately powered RCTs are urgently needed.

Attending veterinarians improve the research capability and psychological well-being of researchers in animal research institutes

The use of laboratory animals in biomedical research has significantly advanced scientific understanding, yet it raises ethical concerns about animal welfare and the mental health of researchers Recent research has highlighted the potential for stress and compassion fatigue among researchers working with distressed animals. Attending veterinarians (AVs) are crucial in mitigating the pain and stress experienced by animals and, by extension, researchers. However, the impact of AVs on researchers' psychological well-being remains understudied. This study explores how AVs contribute to researchers' research capability and psychological well-being in animal research institutions. AVs oversee animal housing, health, and welfare; their involvement is mandated or strongly recommended in developed countries. AVs enhance animal welfare by ensuring proper housing, nutrition, and social interaction. They monitor animal health, educate researchers on pain assessment, and promote compliance with post-surgical care. AVs also contribute to researchers' well-being by addressing euthanasia procedures, which can be emotionally challenging. Programs for rehoming animals after experiments offer an alternative to euthanasia and positively impact researchers' psychological well-being. Moreover, AVs promote workplace well-being by fostering positive workplace cultures, offering peer counseling, and providing social support. Programs considering animal welfare and researchers' emotions are crucial for a healthy research environment. In conclusion, AVs are essential in balancing scientific progress with animal welfare and researchers' psychological well-being. Therefore, their role should be recognized as vital in achieving social equity that considers the welfare of humans and laboratory animals.

Cross-Sectional Study of the Professional Quality of Life of Palliative Care Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The display of compassionate care by palliative care professionals is of the utmost importance to the patients, their families, and even to their own professional well-being. Lately and, especially due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, palliative care professionals have been subjected to greater pressures stemming from their work environment, organizational standpoint, and emotional sense of view. Not only have these factors made it harder for professionals to deliver compassionate care to their patients, but they have also decreased their overall well-being. The aim is to study how sociodemographics, workplace characteristics, internal resources, and the COVID-19 pandemic-derived pressures have affected the professionals' capacity to perform compassionate care and their well-being while at the same time exploring the relationship between compassionate care and well-being.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional design with data gathered from Spanish palliative care professionals. The final sample was formed by 241 participants. They were surveyed about compassion, professional quality of life, well-being, sociodemographic data, working conditions, self-care, and coping with death competence, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analyses used were descriptive statistics, bivariate tests, and the construction of a structural equation model.

RESULTS

Compassion was predicted by the ability to control their workload and the ability to cope with death. Burnout was predicted by age, workload, workload control, self-care, material resources, and changes in teamwork. Moreover, compassion, age, workload control, and changes in teamwork and self-care were shown to significantly predict compassion satisfaction. When it comes to compassion fatigue, different variables were shown to predict it, those being compassion, control over the workload, social self-care, and the ability to cope with death.

CONCLUSIONS

Having a healthy lifestyle and an adequate social support system is key to maintaining professional well-being in the case of palliative care professionals. Inner resources such as the ability to perform self-care and the capacity to cope with death are of vital importance to taking care of these professionals. Thus, it would be beneficial to establish training programs focused on these aspects in the myriad of sanitary centers that perform these tasks, as these abilities are necessary to withstand the work-related pressures and, at the same time, be able to provide compassionate care for patients.

Professional Quality of Life Among Professionals Working with People with Eating Disorders: The Interplay Between Meaning in Work, Optimism, and Career Duration

Purpose

Scientific literature findings reflect the challenges experienced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) whose work is dedicated to helping clients with eating disorders (EDs) in various treatment centers (wards). These challenges can affect the professional quality of life (comprised of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress) of HCPs. The present study delved into this relationship and explored the moderating role of dispositional optimism and the role of career duration in ED wards in the link between meaning in work and professional quality of life.

Methods

Two hundred HCPs working in ED wards in Israel were recruited through their professional social networks. Participants completed self-report questionnaires related to socio-demographic and work data, professional quality of life, meaning in work, and dispositional optimism.

Results

Career duration in ED wards was negatively associated with secondary traumatic stress, while dispositional optimism and meaning in work were positively associated with compassion satisfaction and negatively associated with burnout and secondary traumatic stress. With respect to the moderation effect of dispositional optimism and EDs ward career duration, the findings revealed that the positive relationship between meaning in work and compassion satisfaction weakened as dispositional optimism scores increased. Additionally, the negative relationship between meaning in life and burnout was significant only when the career duration in EDs wards was less than 12.31 years.

Conclusion

HCPs working in ED wards could draw on the findings to improve their professional quality of life, especially through enhancing meaning in work. Attention should be paid especially toward HCPs with many years (>12.31) of experience in the ED wards.

Mindful practice with medical interpreters

Introduction

Medical interpreters experience emotional burdens from the complex demands at work. Because communication access is a social determinant of health, protecting and promoting the health of medical interpreters is critical for ensuring equitable access to care for language-minority patients. The purpose of this study was to pilot a condensed 8-h program based on Mindful Practice® in Medicine addressing the contributors to distress and psychosocial stressors faced by medical sign and spoken language interpreters.

Methods

Using a single-arm embedded QUAN(qual) mixed-methods pilot study design, weekly in-person 1-h sessions for 8 weeks involved formal and informal contemplative practice, didactic delivery of the week's theme (mindfulness, noticing, teamwork, suffering, professionalism, uncertainty, compassion, and resilience), and mindful inquiry exercises (narrative medicine, appreciative interviews, and insight dialog). Quantitative well-being outcomes (mean±SEM) were gathered via survey at pre-, post-, and 1-month post-intervention time points, compared with available norms, and evaluated for differences within subjects. Voluntary feedback about the workshop series was solicited post-intervention via a free text survey item and individual exit interviews. A thematic framework was established by way of qualitative description.

Results

Seventeen medical interpreters (46.2 ± 3.1 years old; 16 women/1 man; 8 White/9 Hispanic or Latino) participated. Overall scores for teamwork (p ≤ 0.027), coping (p ≤ 0.006), and resilience (p ≤ 0.045) increased from pre- to post-intervention and pre- to 1-month post-intervention. Non-judging as a mindfulness component increased from pre- to post-intervention (p = 0.014). Compassion satisfaction (p = 0.021) and burnout (p = 0.030) as components of professional quality of life demonstrated slightly delayed effects, improving from pre- to 1-month post-intervention. Themes such as workshop schedule, group size, group composition, interactivity, topics to be added or removed, and culture are related to the overarching topic areas of intervention logistics and content. Integration of the findings accentuated the positive impact of the intervention.

Discussion

The results of this research demonstrate that mindful practice can serve as an effective resource for medical interpreters when coping with work-related stressors. Future iterations of the mindful practice intervention will further aspire to address linguistic and cultural diversity in the study population for broader representation and subsequent generalization.

Occupational Stress and Professional Quality of Life Among Community Health Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the correlation between occupational stress and professional quality of life (Pro-QOL) among community nurses during the pandemic COVID-19. Design: This study was conducted with a correlational design of 120 community health nurses. The research sample was obtained using a nonprobability purposive sampling technique following the research inclusion criteria. Expanded Nursing Stress Scale and Pro-QOL were used in this study. The research hypothesis: there is a correlation between occupational stress and the Pro-QOL of community health nurses. Methods: Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between occupational stress and Pro-QOL. Findings: The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between occupational stress and Pro-QOL. Despite being in a difficult situation due to the pandemic and vulnerable to occupational stress, nurses significantly had high compassion satisfaction. Conclusions: Occupational stress affects nurses' Pro-QOL, it can be considered for public healthcare organizations to promote healthcare workers' well-being. Mobilizing the existing workforce, changing work patterns, support from colleagues and supervisors, clear communication of directives, and precautionary measures can reduce psychiatric symptoms.

The Social Values of Nursing Staff and the Perceived Quality of Their Professional Lives

This study's main purpose involves exploring the relationship between the social values of nursing staff and the perception they have of their professional lives. A further aim is to examine how their terms of employment and tenure of service relate to the quality of their careers and their social values. The research consisted of a non-experimental quantitative approach of a descriptive nature involving 380 nursing staff at four public hospitals in Madrid (Spain). The values were appraised by means of the Schwarz Value Survey (SVS) and the quality of their careers was measured through the Quality of Professional Life (QPL-35) questionnaire. The results reveal significant correlations between the two, highlighting the significance of such values as universalism, benevolence, achievement and power depending on their terms of employment, on the one hand, and all the values in the Schwartz model according to the length of their tenure on the other. The findings suggest that terms of employment and tenure are significantly related to the axiological profile of nursing staff and the quality of their professional lives. This study provides major empirical evidence that contributes to our understanding of how social values and the quality of professional lives are interwoven within the field of nursing in Spain.

Professional Roles, Services, and Quality of Life for End-of-Life Doulas in the United States

CONTEXT

End-of-life doulas provide support to the chronically ill, dying, and their families. However, little is known about the roles and services of doulas practicing in the United States.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the current study is to gain understanding of the roles and experiences of death doulas in the United States.

METHODS

The current study used concurrent triangulation mixed methods design combining survey data with video and audio file submissions from end-of-life doulas. The survey included demographics information, a questionnaire about the roles, services, and training of doulas, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale.

RESULTS

There were 74 (77.08%) complete responses from doulas practicing in the United States. Doulas shared about the types of services offered and professional roles they filled in work with the dying and their families. Many doulas offered hybrid or virtual services in addition to in-person care. Many worked at least partially on a volunteer basis. Professional Quality of Life Scales indicated a high level of compassion satisfaction, a low level of burnout, and a low level of secondary trauma.

CONCLUSION

In the complex healthcare system of the United States, end-of-life doulas offer valuable interpersonal services like legacy and grief work as well as practical services like financial and logistical end-of-life planning.

Correlation between professional quality of life and alarm fatigue symptoms among intensive care unit nurses

Introduction

Medical devices and equipment are necessary for accurate and continuous monitoring of the patients admitted to intensive care units, one of which is alarm systems. Frequent sounds of alarms can affect nurses' concentration and accuracy when providing care. Complications such as headache, fatigue, and stress occur after repeated alarms, leading to poor quality of professional life among nurses. This study aimed to determine the relationship between quality of professional life and alarm fatigue syndrome among intensive care unit nurses.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to select nurses working in intensive care units from three hospitals in southern Iran in 2021 (n = 201). Data were collected using three questionnaires, including sociodemographic form, the professional quality of life questionnaire (ProQOL), and the alarm fatigue symptom (AFS) scale.

Results

The mean scores of compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout, secondary traumatic stress (STS) (subscales of the ProQOL), and AFS were 34.66 ± 7.54, 28.98 ± 7.59, 27.69 ± 5.87, and 13.48 ± 7.32, respectively. The majority of them had no or mild AFS, moderate CS, burnout, and STS. Among the study variables, only AFS were a significant predictor of CS and STS among ICU nurses. In addition, work experience in ICU, AFS, and a second job were significant predictors of burnout among ICU nurses.

Conclusions

The study results showed a significant relationship between alarm fatigue syndrome, burnout, STS, and CS. Given that more than half of the nurses in the intensive care unit in the present study experienced some degree of alarm fatigue syndrome, it is necessary to plan and implement interventions to better manage the alarms in the intensive care unit.

An Integrative Review of Measures of Secondary Traumatic Stress

Background and Purpose: Secondary traumatic stress (STS) results in detrimental effects in healthcare professionals, impacting the safety of patients and their care. There are multiple instruments being used to measure STS, reflecting the uncertainty on how to best measure STS. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the state of measurement of STS. Methods: PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases were searched using the terms "secondary traumatic stress" and "measurement." Results: The search resulted in nine applicable articles and four instruments used to measure STS. Utility and psychometric properties of the instruments are examined. Conclusions: The secondary traumatic stress scale is most appropriate to measure STS given that it is the only instrument intended to measure only STS, but psychometric testing with nurses is needed.

Prevalence and Predictive Factors of Compassion Fatigue among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: Implications for Well-Being and Support

Compassion fatigue (CF) poses significant challenges to healthcare workers' (HCWs) well-being. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CF and identify its predictive factors among HCWs in all regions of Saudi Arabia (SA). As such, all HCWs from different disciplines in different centers were allowed to participate, resulting in 678 participants. The study tool, distributed between October 2022 and January 2023, consisted of a questionnaire created by the authors based on the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). The ProQOL measures the positive (compassion satisfaction [CS]) and negative (CF) effects of helping those who have suffered, noting that burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) are the two subscales that constitute CF. Our findings revealed that 63.9% of HCWs experienced average STS, while 57.2% reported average BO levels. HCWs in the southern and northern regions exhibited higher STS (p-value = 0.003 and 0.010, respectively). Physicians displayed higher BO levels (p-value = 0.024). Higher levels of CS were found among older HCWs (p-value = 0.001) and lower levels among those with more years of experience (p-value = 0.004). Support at work and job, life, and financial income satisfaction were significantly and positively correlated with CS and negatively correlated with BO and STS. These findings highlight the need for tailored awareness campaigns targeting HCWs, particularly physicians, to promote well-being, enhance coping skills, and foster problem-solving techniques. Keywords: burnout; compassion fatigue; compassion satisfaction; healthcare workers; professional quality of life; Saudi Arabia; secondary traumatic stress; medical trainees' well-being.

Resilience and its relationship with occupational stress and professional quality of life during COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to assess resilience and its relationship with occupational stress (OS) and PQOL among nurses in COVID-19 isolation wards. This is a descriptive-analytical research design involving 158 frontline nurses in the Iran. Four standardized scales were used for data collection. The total mean scores of resilience and OS were 26.19 ± 6.2 and 73.3 ± 14.5, respectively. The mean scores of participants' resilience and OS had no significant relationship with their demographic characteristics (P > 0.05). Resilience had significant negative relationship with OS (r = - 0.376, P < 0.001) and significant positive relationship with the compassion satisfaction dimension of PQOL (r = 0.373; P < 0.001). Resilience was also a significant predictor of OS and the compassion satisfaction dimension of PQOL (P < 0.001). Nurses' OS can be reduced through resilience-promoting strategies such as development of their social support network, improvement of their optimism, and provision of resilient role models and quality resilience-related education.

Compassion fatigue and COVID-19: A global view from nurses

BACKGROUND

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 variants, the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 may create psychological burdens on nurses. Nurses with high levels of compassion fatigue (CF) are more likely to make work errors, deliver poor-quality care, and have greater intent to leave their position.

OBJECTIVES

This study utilized the social-ecological model to examine factors associated with nurses' CF and compassion satisfaction (CS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Data were collected from the United States, Japan, and South Korea from July to December 2020. The Professional Quality of Life Scale was used to measure burnout (BO), secondary traumatic stress (STS), and CS.

RESULTS

Data from 662 responses were used in the analysis. Mean scores were 25.04 (±6.44) for BO, 24.81 (±6.43) for STS, and 37.85 (±7.67) for CS. Multiple regression analyses indicated that resilience and intention to leave nursing were related to each study outcome (i.e., BO, STS, and CS). Greater resilience predicted lower BO and STS but greater CS, whereas intention to leave nursing indicated greater BO and STS, but lower CS. Furthermore, intrapersonal factors and organizational factors (i.e., nurses involved in developing policies to prepare for COVID-19 patients, organizational support, and personal protective equipment [PPE] provisions) were related to BO, STS, and CS.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO PRACTICE

To promote nurses' psychological well-being, improvement of organizational factors such as support, PPE, and programs to enhance resilience is recommended to prepare for future emerging infectious disease crises.

The relationship between professional quality of life and work environment among ICU nurses in Chinese: a cross-sectional study

Objective

To explore the relationship between the professional quality of life and work environment among intensive care unit nurses, and identify the influencing factors of intensive care unit nurses' professional quality of life.

Methods

This study design is cross-sectional and correlational descriptive. Four hundred fourteen intensive care unit nurses from Central China were recruited. Data were collected from three questionnaires of self-designed demographic questions, the professional quality of life scale and the nursing work environment scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data.

Results

A total of 414 questionnaires was collected, for an effective recovery rate of 98.57%. The original scores of the three sub-scales of professional quality of life were 33.58 ± 6.43, 31.83 ± 5.94, and 32.55 ± 5.74. Compassion satisfaction was positively correlated with the nursing working environment (p < 0.05), job burnout, and secondary trauma were negatively correlated with nursing work in environment (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis results show that, the nursing working environment entered into the influential factor model of professional quality of life scale (p < 0.001). The nursing working environment independently explained 26.9% of the changes in compassion satisfaction, 27.1% of the changes in job burnout, and 27.5% of the changes in secondary trauma. The nursing work environment is an important factor affecting the professional quality of life.

Conclusion

The better the nursing working environment, the higher the professional quality of life of intensive care unit nurses. Decision makers and managers can focus on improving the working environment of nurses, which may be a new perspective for managers to improve the professional quality of life of nurses and stabilize the nursing team.

Quality of life among health care workers in Arab countries 2 years after COVID-19 pandemic

Background

Assessment of the quality of life (QoL) among healthcare workers (HCWs) is vital for better healthcare and is an essential indicator for competent health service delivery. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic strike, the frontline position of HCWs subjected them to tremendous mental and psychological burden with a high risk of virus acquisition.

Aim

This study evaluated the QoL and its influencing factors among HCWs residing in the Arab countries.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study using a self-administered online questionnaire based on the World Health Organization QoL-BREF instrument with additional questions related to COVID-19. The study was conducted in three different languages (Arabic, English, and French) across 19 Arab countries between February 22 and March 24, 2022.

Results

A total of 3,170 HCWs were included in the survey. The majority were females (75.3%), aged 18-40 years (76.4%), urban residents (90.4%), married (54.5%), and were living in middle-income countries (72.0%). The mean scores of general health and general QoL were 3.7 ± 1.0 and 3.7 ± 0.9, respectively. Those who attained average physical, psychological, social, and environmental QoL were 40.8, 15.4, 26.2, and 22.3%, respectively. The income per capita and country income affected the mean scores of all QoL domains. Previous COVID-19 infection, having relatives who died of COVID-19, and being vaccinated against COVID-19 significantly affected the mean scores of different domains.

Conclusion

A large proportion of the Arab HCWs evaluated in this study had an overall poor QoL. More attention should be directed to this vulnerable group to ensure their productivity and service provision.

Association between coping strategies and professional quality of life in nurses and physicians during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To explore the associations between coping strategies (social support, avoidance strategies, positive attitude, problem orientation, and transcendent orientation) and professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress) of nurses and physicians during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the association between the way health care workers cope with stress and their professional quality of life during the unusual circumstances that the COVID-19 pandemic imposed.

METHODS

A single-centre cross-sectional observational study was conducted with health care professionals (n = 143). The Professional Quality of Life scale Version 5 and the Italian Version of the Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced measured the professional quality of life and coping strategies, respectively.

RESULTS

Avoidance, problem orientation and social support coping worsened professional quality of life, whereas a positive attitude improved it.

CONCLUSIONS

This study on the relationship between coping strategies and the professional quality of life during health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic can inform interventions aiming to foster functional coping strategies in health care personnel to sustain their professional quality of life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Identifying people at greater risk of burnout and secondary traumatic stress can guide tailored interventions to improve health care workers' wellbeing. Increased professional quality of life might turn in improved quality of care and reduced absenteeism and intention to leave.

Views from the trenches: California family physicians' challenges and resilience factors while providing patient care during the initial wave of COVID-19

This study examined challenges and factors promoting resilience among 20 California family physicians (FPs) during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. A subset of academic, community, and resident FPs who responded to an online survey also participated in a semi-structured interview that explored concerns, moral distress, burnout, resource needs, support systems, coping strategies, and motivation to continue caring for patients. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes in participant interviews. Interviewees demonstrated adaptability, resilience, and grit (i.e., commitment to completing a valued goal in the face of setbacks and adversity) despite challenges disrupting patient care, fears for family and self, and frustration due to the politicization of the pandemic. Factors promoting well-being and perseverance included professional and personal support, strong coping skills, and focusing on the meaning derived from practicing medicine. A service orientation that permeates family medicine philosophy and values motivated practitioners to continue to provide patient care while dealing with overwhelming personal and structural challenges. FPs drew strength from their internal coping skills, core family medicine values, and external support, notwithstanding demoralizing effects of mixed messages and politicization of the pandemic. FPs demonstrated resilience and grit in the face of challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring adequate resources to promote a physically and psychologically healthy workforce while increasing access to care for all patients is crucial to prepare for the next healthcare crisis.

Assessment of Professional Quality of Life Among Critical Care Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia

Aim

Nurses play a major role in critical care units (CCUs), providing care to critically ill patients while also facing numerous health challenges that impair their quality of life. This was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the professional quality of life (ProQOL) and establish the prevalence of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among CCU nurses in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of CCU nurses was conducted using the ProQOL Scale, consisting of three subscales: 1) compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, 2) burnout, and 3) secondary traumatic stress. The data were analyzed to obtain descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

A total of 238 ICU nurses, who were predominantly female (83%) and had a bachelor’s degree (80%), participated in this study. The ProQOL subscales exhibited varied mean scores across demographic variables. Statistically significant differences were observed in the compassion satisfaction (p=0.014) of CCU nurses working in public hospitals, and in the secondary traumatic stress (p=0.006) among nurses working in night shifts. The percentage distribution of CCU nurses’ individual levels for all the ProQOL subscales were within the average to high levels.

Conclusion

The ProQOL was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, varied ProQOL mean scores across demographic characteristics suggest that interpersonal differences should be considered when developing improvement initiatives.

Impact of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue on satisfaction with life in Serbian and Polish nurses: A cross-sectional study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate demographic and occupational factors of professional life on life satisfaction among nurses in Serbia and Poland.

BACKGROUND

Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, as aspects of a nurse's professional life, may affect their satisfaction with life in general. However, most studies on this topic have been conducted in Asian countries, and because there are differences in health care system performance across countries amid a global shortage of nurses, it is necessary to investigate professional quality of life in the European nursing context.

METHODS

This multicenter, comparative, and correlational study was conducted on a sample of 669 hospital nurses in Serbia and Poland. The survey data were collected between November 2019 and February 2020 using the Demographic and Occupational Questionnaire (DOQ), Professional Quality-of-Life Scale (ProQOL-5), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). STROBE Statement guidelines for cross-sectional studies were followed.

RESULTS

Most nurses from both countries reported having moderate compassion satisfaction, moderate risk for compassion fatigue, and an average life satisfaction. The predictive factors of life satisfaction that most stand out include country of origin, financial situation, education, job satisfaction, and compassion fatigue.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Quality of professional life is significantly affected by shift duration, age, work experience, and job satisfaction. Negative aspects of professional life are significant predictors of life satisfaction.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY

The findings of this study indicate a need for implementing flexible shift patterns and enhancing interventions that will improve job satisfaction and compassion satisfaction while reducing the risk of compassion fatigue.

COVID 19 pandemic: Impact of changes experienced on social workers' professional quality of life in Singapore

COVID-19 has impacted all spheres of life massively. Among the emerging studies on the psychosocial impact of the pandemic, few studies look specifically at how social workers are impacted. To understand this gap, this study surveyed 337 social workers. The findings showed that changes experienced in the workplace were enormous and caused secondary traumatic stress while engendering compassion satisfaction among social workers, but the presence of social support moderated to keep the secondary traumatic stress at bay. Resilience mediated association between social and workplace support and compassion fatigue. Social support seemed to have the largest effect on reducing stress through resilience. Workplace support also helped mitigate burnout. In conclusion, continued social and workplace support will be key to supporting social workers during a pandemic.

Associations among professional quality of life dimensions, burnout, nursing practice environment, and turnover intention in newly graduated nurses

BACKGROUND

Professional quality of life affects nurses' well-being and the quality of care. However, little attention is paid to the relationships among professional quality of life dimensions, burnout, nursing practice environment, and intention to leave this job in newly graduated nurses.

AIMS

To assess the levels of professional quality of life dimensions and turnover intention, to examine the predictors for turnover intention, and to explore the mediating roles of professional quality of life dimensions on the associations between these predictors and turnover intention in Chinese newly graduated nurses.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study with 315 newly graduated nurses selected from five tertiary hospitals and five secondary hospitals in Sichuan province, China. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the effects of demographic characteristics and work-related factors on intention to leave this job. Structural equation modeling technique was performed to explore the mediating effect of each domain of professional quality of life on the relationships between the predictors and turnover intention.

RESULTS

The prevalence of average levels of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction was 43.2%, 57.1%, and 81.3%, respectively. Moreover, 43.8% and 0.6% of the participants reported high and exceptionally high intention to leave this job. Nursing practice environment, social support, and empathy indirectly and significantly affected turnover intention via the mediating roles of burnout and compassion satisfaction, respectively. However, no significant mediating effect of secondary traumatic stress was found between these predictors and turnover intention.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

Perceptions of greater nursing practice environment, social support, and empathy result in lower turnover intention via reducing burnout and facilitating compassion satisfaction. Strategies such as developing a supportive work and family environment, and cultivating empathic capacity can be effective methods to mitigate against intention to leave this job in newly graduated nurses.

A Pilot Observational Exploratory Study of Well-Being in Hospice Interdisciplinary Team Members

INTRODUCTION

Well-being and turnover intent represent key aspects to the promotion of a healthy workforce. Alarming levels of burnout and low levels of well-being have been documented in health professionals across care settings. Not only do high levels of burnout, low well-being and high turnover affect health professionals, but they are associated with poor patient care. However, limited research has investigated this topic specifically in hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT) members, nurses, chaplains, social workers. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore hospice IDT members' well-being, and turnover intent.

METHODS

This observational, pilot study used quantitative surveys to examine the well-being, and turnover intention at baseline and at 3 months. Twenty-five hospice IDT members at one site participated.

RESULTS

Paired t-tests and percent change demonstrated significant decreases in compassion satisfaction (44.5 vs. 42.1, p = 0.04) and secondary traumatic stress score (18.5 vs. 13.3, p = 0.0001) and a significant increase in burnout score (17.6 vs. 20.5, p = 0.03) from baseline to follow up. Employee turnover slightly decreased from baseline to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In this pilot study, hospice IDT members had low levels of well-being at baseline that worsened over 3-months indicating a higher potential risk for burnout. Moreover, given the COVID-19 pandemic, this may be an ominous sign of what lies ahead for hospice providers regarding turnover, leading to significant long-term staffing problems in the field. If these results hold true in a larger sample, it could necessitate developing and testing further strategies to ensure a healthy and stable workforce.

Professional quality of life in home visitors: Core components of the reflective supervisory relationship and IMH-E® Endorsement® engagement

Infant and early childhood home visiting models are gaining prominence as effective programs for families. Most U.S. state infant mental health associations (IMHAs) recommend reflective supervision (RS) and Infant Mental Health (IMH-E^® ) Endorsement^® as components of home visitor professional development. These efforts may promote workforce professional quality of life. It is unknown whether a workplace policy to provide RS improves the likelihood that best practice guidelines, especially core components of a reflective supervisory relationship, are experienced by the workforce. We sought to investigate associations between home visitor well-being indicated by professional quality of life (i.e., burnout, secondary traumatic stress, compassion satisfaction) and a workplace policy providing RS, consistent experience of core components of a reflective supervisory relationship, and engagement in endorsement. We also examined differences in consistently experiencing core components of the reflective supervisory relationship in home visitors who reported having a workplace policy for providing RS and those who did not, and for home visitors engaged or not engaged in the endorsement process. A Workplace Supports Survey was designed to investigate these associations; we report findings from a sample of home visitor respondents (N = 139).  A policy to provide RS was not associated with professional quality of life. However, analyses suggest an association between a policy to provide RS and consistently experiencing core components of a reflective supervisory relationship. Unanticipated positive associations between engagement in endorsement and burnout and secondary traumatic stress were also found. Finally, engagement in endorsement was associated with less consistent experience of these core components. Implications for future inquiry about the purposes of RS and IECMH Endorsement^® as strategies to promote workforce development and well-being are discussed.

The correlation between professional quality of life and mental health outcomes among hospital personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic in Taiwan

Purpose

This study investigated the association between professional quality of life, working context, and mental health outcomes among hospital personnel in Taiwan during the worldwide upsurge in COVID-19 cases.

Patients and Methods

We recruited 503 hospital personnel to whom we administered online questionnaires containing items from the Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) scale, which covers compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO) and compassion fatigue (CF), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and questions on work-related variables. Data were collected from 13 July to 19 August 2020.

Results

The participants generally reported moderate CS and BO and low CF. Overall prevalence of mild-to-extremely-severe stress, anxiety and depression was 24.5%, 39.6% and 31.2%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression revealed that moderate-to-high BO and CF correlated with increased risks of mild-to-extremely-severe stress (OR = 4.17 and 2.23, respectively), anxiety (OR = 4.86 and 2.81, respectively) and depression (OR = 5.83 and 3.01, respectively), while moderate-to-high CS correlated with reduced risks of stress (OR = 0.53) and depression (OR = 0.45) only. There were CS and BO differences in groups categorized by marital status and profession. Anxiety increased linearly by seniority <10, 10–19 and ≥20 years (p for trend <0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the subscales of ProQOL, BO and CF appeared to be associated with increased risks of stress, anxiety and depression among hospital personnel during the COVID-19 epidemic. A long-term contingency program may be needed to adjust work context variables and support emotional well-being of these workers.

Professional quality of life and psychological resilience among psychiatric nurses

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between professional quality of life and psychological resilience in psychiatric nurses in Turkey.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 psychiatric nurses in Turkey. Data were collected using the Professional Quality of Life Scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale.

FINDINGS

Correlations were observed between compassion satisfaction (CS) and burnout, CS and resilience, and in burnout and compassion fatigue (CF).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Actions to improve resilience, prevent burnout, and reduce CF should be implemented.

Palliative Care Professionals' Inner Life: Exploring the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Prediction of Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout and Wellbeing

CONTEXT

Palliative care professionals are exposed to suffering on a daily basis. Working in such an environment frequently raises existential issues, psychological challenges, and emotional distress, that can detract from compassionate care. Identifying factors that help professionals cope with frequent exposure to issues related to mortality, such as compassion, could enhance palliative care providers' and patients' quality of life and wellbeing.

OBJECTIVES

To improve our understanding of the factors associated with professionals' inner life studying the role of self-compassion as a mediating variable between self-care and awareness and professionals' quality of life, and quantifying the impact of compassionate care.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey of palliative care professionals was conducted through the Spanish Society of Palliative Care. 296 professionals answered the survey.

RESULTS

The model tested showed an adequate fit (χ²(212) = 476.688 (P < .001), CFI = .907, RMSEA = .066 [.058,.073], and SRMR = .068), and the hypotheses were supported. Self-care and awareness predicted coping with death and self-compassion, which in turn predicted professional quality of life. Self-compassion had the greatest predictive power. Professional quality of life showed a statistically significant and positive effect on personal wellbeing, explaining more than 50% of its variance (R² = .574; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

For palliative care professionals, the cultivation of self-compassion is equally needed as compassion for others. Professional quality of life and compassionate care are related to professionals' wellbeing: when professionals take care of themselves, this will lead in a more compassionate care, but also in healthier, happier professionals.

A study on COVID-19-related stigmatization, quality of professional life and professional identity in a sample of HCWs in Italy

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Perceived COVID-19-related stigmatizations have a strong impact on healthcare workers' wellbeing and quality of professional life, decreasing satisfaction and increasing fatigue. This work aims to investigate the role of professional identification in moderating the impact of COVID-19-related stigma on quality of professional life in a sample of healthcare professionals working in hospital.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design in which a web-based questionnaire was sent to professionals was used to collect answers from 174 participants, most of whom women and nurses.

RESULTS

Perceived stigma was negatively related with compassion satisfaction and positively related with an increase in both burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Professional identification had a positive correlation with satisfaction and a negative correlation with burnout, but this was not directly related with secondary traumatic stress. Importantly, stigma and identification interacted so that stigma decreased compassion satisfaction only when identification was low, and increased secondary traumatic stress only when identification was high. No interaction effect appeared with respect to burnout.

CONCLUSIONS

Experience of stigmatization has the potential to decrease the quality of professional life of healthcare professionals. Professional identification seems to help professional to maintain higher level of compassion satisfaction and reduced burnout. However, professional identification seems also be associated with vicarious trauma experienced following stigma. (www.actabiomedica.it).

Australian Chaplains and Their Professional Quality of Life

Chaplains often express a sense of satisfaction in helping others. But their work renders them vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress and burnout. We investigated mindful self-care, comparing the experiences of chaplains and other workers. Measures used included mindful selfcare, social support, and professional quality of life. We found self-care practices did not predict the professional quality of life. Lack of supportive structures and mindful awareness predicted burnout. Compassion satisfaction might arise from other sources.

Professional Quality of Life in Research Involving Laboratory Animals

Many workers contribute to the success of animal welfare and study outcomes in biomedical research. However, the professional quality of life (ProQoL) of those who work with laboratory animals has not been explored in Spain. To this end, we adapted the ProQoL scale to the Spanish population working with laboratory animals. Participants were contacted by email and asked to complete an anonymous on-line questionnaire. The study comprised a total of 498 participants, 12.4% welfare officers/veterinarians, 19.5% caretaker/technicians, 13.9% principal investigators, 20.7% investigators, 13.6% research technicians, and 19.9% PhD students. The adapted scale revealed very good reliability and internal validity, providing information about two different subscales, compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. Animal-facility personnel showed higher total ProQoL and compassion-satisfaction scores than researchers; PhD students showed the lowest scores. Thus, our results indicate that job category is a contributing factor in perceived professional quality of life. We observed that compassion satisfaction is negatively associated with the perceived animal stress/pain. Participants reporting poorer compassion satisfaction also reported lower social-support scores. Overall, our ProQoL scale is a useful tool for analyzing the professional quality of life in the Spanish population, and may help to design future interventions to improve workplace wellbeing in Spain and other Spanish-speaking populations.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on ICU Healthcare Professionals: A Mixed Methods Study

The large numbers of patients admitted to intensive care units due to COVID-19 has had a major impact on healthcare professionals. The incidence of mental health disorders among these professionals has increased considerably and their professional quality of life has suffered during the pandemic. This study aims to explore the impact of the provision of COVID-19 patient care on ICU healthcare professionals. A mixed methods study with an exploratory concurrent design was conducted between June and November 2020 in the Balearic Islands, Spain. Data were collected using a self-report online survey (n = 122) based on three validated questionnaires, and individual semi-structured in-depth online interviews (n = 11). Respondents scored 2.5 out of 5 on the moral distress scale, moderate/high on the compassion satisfaction scale, and moderate on the burnout and compassion fatigue subscales. Age was significantly and negatively related to professional quality of life but was positively related to workload and unavailability of protective equipment. Three main groups of themes relating to the impact of the pandemic emerged from the in-depth interviews: (a) clinical, (b) professional, and (c) personal and family impacts in the two waves. ICU healthcare professionals should be viewed as second victims of the COVID-19 pandemic as they have suffered significant psychological, professional, and moral harm.

The role of nurses' professional values during the COVID-19 crisis

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced high stress in nurses, affecting their professional quality of life. Different variables affect psychological stress response and professional quality of life. In this context, the role of professional values represents an interesting object of research.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the relationship between professional values, perceived stress, and professional quality of life among nurses during the COVID-19 crisis.

RESEARCH DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, AND RESEARCH CONTEXT

Descriptive cross-sectional study. Participants were 439 registered nurses from the public health system. Perceived stress, professional quality of life, and professional values were evaluated by using measuring instruments adapted and validated in the geographic context of research. Data were collected online in December 2020 during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee on Clinical Research of the Principality of Asturias.

FINDINGS

Within professional values, ethics obtained higher scores showing the primacy of ethical values among nurses. Moderate correlations between ethics, mastery, expertise, and compassion satisfaction were found. Frontline nurses informed high perceived stress. The correlations between professional values and compassion satisfaction were higher in non-frontline nurses. A moderate negative correlation between perceived stress and compassion satisfaction was found in both groups, which implies that the higher the stress, the lower the satisfaction in the helping relationship.

CONCLUSION

Professional values positively influence compassion satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compassion satisfaction presents a negative correlation with fatigue compassion and burnout in frontline and non-frontline nurses. Given the functionality of values both to guide clinical practice professionally and ethically, and prevent dissatisfaction with one's professional quality of life by reinforcing compassion satisfaction, it is necessary to reinforce them with an intensive and cross-sectional learning during the university training.

Professional quality of life, sleep disturbance and health among nurses: A mediation analysis

Aims

This study aimed to examine sleep disturbance as a mediator of the relationship between professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress) and health (physical and mental health) in nurses.

Design

Descriptive, cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Three hundred eighteen Registered Nurses completed a web‐based survey at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in the United States. Mediation analyses were conducted to test hypothesized relationships.

Results

Nurses with higher levels of compassion satisfaction reported lower levels of sleep disturbance and better physical/mental health. Burnout and secondary traumatic stress were negatively associated with physical/mental health and positively associated with sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance fully or partially mediated the relationships between professional quality of life and physical/mental health among nurses.

Leadership, professional quality of life and moral distress during COVID-19: A mixed-methods approach

AIM

To understand the impact of professional stressors on nurses' and other health care providers' professional quality of life and moral distress as they cared for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

Health care providers caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic are at increased risk of decreased professional quality of life and increased moral distress.

METHODS

A convergent mixed-methods design and snowball sampling was used to collect survey data (n = 171) and semi-structured interviews (n = 23) among health care providers working in the inpatient setting.

RESULTS

Perceived lack of support from executive leadership, access to personal protective equipment and constantly changing guidelines led to decreased professional quality of life and increased moral distress among health care providers.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study indicate that shared governance, disaster management training and enhanced communication may assist executive leadership to reduce the likelihood of decreased professional quality of life and increased moral distress in front line health care providers.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Following the principles of shared governance may assist executive leadership to promote and acknowledge the significance of the role of health care providers at the bedside. Additionally, disaster management training and open communication are crucial to ensure that health care providers are adequately informed and supported at the bedside.

Professional quality of life and caring behaviours among clinical nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To investigate the professional quality of life and caring behaviours among clinical nurses in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also examined the influence of the nurses' socio-demographic and professional characteristics on the professional quality of life. Moreover, the study examined the influence of professional quality of life on caring behaviour among the nurses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

Caring is the core of the nursing profession and considered the heart of the humanistic clinical nursing practice. However, the work nature of the clinical nurses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to challenge their professional quality of life and caring behaviours. The factors influencing the professional quality of life and caring behaviours of clinical nurses have not been extensively explored.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, descriptive study.

METHODS

A purposive sample of 375 clinical nurses in three academic medical centres in Saudi Arabia were surveyed using the professional quality of life version 5 and the short-form 24-item Caring Behavior Inventory from May-August 2020. A standard multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the predictors of the professional quality of life and caring behaviour. This study adhered to the recommendations of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

RESULTS

The majority of the respondents reported average level of compassion satisfaction (57.9%), burnout (54.4%) and secondary traumatic stress (66.9%) in the professional quality of life domains. The result also showed highest degree of caring in terms of 'assurance of human presence' while lowest in the 'knowledge and skills' in four subscales of caring behaviour. The following variables significantly predicted compassion satisfaction: education, area of assignment and position. Age, education and religion were identified as significant predictors of burnout while religion, nationality and position were significant predictors of secondary traumatic stress. Positive and negative domains of professional quality of life influenced the caring behaviours among clinical nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of the study, clinical nurses exhibited moderate level of professional quality of life and correlates to their caring behaviours. Moreover, clinical nurses' demographic characteristics predicted their professional quality of life and caring behaviours.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The importance of ensuring good professional quality of life and caring behaviour among clinical nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic is underscored. Nursing leaders can utilise this baseline evidence and apply programmes for clinical nurses to tackle professional quality of life issues and enhance caring behaviours.

What Helps Oiled Wildlife Responders Care for Animals While Minimizing Stress and Compassion Fatigue

Simple Summary

An oil spill can have severe environmental effects, as well as impacting the wellbeing of first responders. Oiled wildlife responders are a key professional group for the identification of wildlife at risk and to provide measures to rescue, rehabilitate and release wildlife back to their clean habitat. Currently, there is limited information documenting impacts to responders’ mental health during a spill response relating to stress, burnout and compassion fatigue; thus, there are limited interventions and strategies that can support responders and address these issues. A survey for oiled wildlife responders who participated in either the New Zealand MV Rena incident or the US Refugio pipeline oil spill was instigated to investigate and contribute to this knowledge gap. Results indicated that to support the health and wellbeing of oiled wildlife responders and sustain them to provide the best achievable care for oiled wildlife, ongoing professional training supported by organizations and professional networks in the areas of emergency preparedness, resilience, self-care and capacity building should be made available to enhance compassion satisfaction and role fulfilment.

Abstract

Oil spills are environmental disasters and their long-term impact is not just a concern for the environment and economy, but also for first responders’ health and wellbeing. Wildlife, such as aquatic birds and certain marine mammals, are highly susceptible to physiological effects of oiling, and oiled wildlife responders are crucial to provide measures for their survival. The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of oiled wildlife responders and what factors and conditions have helped or inhibited the responders to care-affected wildlife. This study collected responses (n = 50) from a survey of responders who attended either the New Zealand MV Rena or US Refugio pipeline oil spills. Study participants were mostly older (>40), highly educated females. We found there were significant differences in compassion satisfaction, resilience, burnout and overall satisfaction based on age, gender and role. While most responders have only attended limited numbers of oil spill incidents, they reported positive experiences and found it rewarding. Findings from responders indicated that to lessen stress and compassion fatigue during an incident, provision of training and support from professional organizations equips responders with knowledge and skills that can support their personal resilience to respond to disaster events.

Effect of Gender Roles and Workplace Violence on the Professional Quality of Life and Wellbeing at Work Among Child Protection Workers

Exposure to workplace violence puts child protection workers at risk for adverse occupational outcomes. While previous studies have identified protective and risk factors, individual differences in gender roles have yet to be explored. Moving beyond sex, the present study aims to examine the ways in which gender roles influence exposure to workplace violence, professional quality of life, and wellbeing at work among child protection workers. A randomized sample stratified by sex of 301 Canadian child protection workers (male: 15.6%, female: 84.4%) completed validated questionnaires of gender roles, professional quality of life, and wellbeing at work. We assessed mean differences using analyses of covariances controlling for clinical experience and type of work. We then assessed the moderating effect of gender roles on other variables through hierarchical multiple linear regressions. Androgyny (high masculinity and high femininity) was associated with higher scores on positive indicators of professional quality of life and wellbeing at work. However, gender roles showed no significant moderating effect on the relationship between exposure to violence, professional quality of life, and wellbeing at work. Results suggest that androgyny could be related to potential psychosocial benefits for child protection workers.

Professional Quality of Life, Engagement, and Self-Care in Healthcare Professionals in Ecuador during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of healthcare workers and their professional quality of life. This quantitative cross-sectional study aims at exploring the professional quality of life, work engagement, and self-care of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador. A convenience sample of 117 participants completed an online voluntary and anonymous survey between April and July 2020. It contained a sociodemographic section, the Professional Quality of Life questionnaire V, the work engagement scale, and the scale of self-care behaviors for clinical psychologists. Results show that healthcare workers have an average quality of life with high levels of compassion satisfaction and average levels of compassion fatigue and burnout. Data also indicate that the sample frequently engaged in self-care practices and had high levels of work engagement. The regression analyses reveal that gender, the number of patients per week, the perceived fairness of the salary, among other variables are possible predictors of professional quality of life, frequency of self-care practices, and engagement. This study contributes to the understanding of these variables among healthcare professionals in Ecuador. These results should be considered when planning policies and prevention intervention efforts to promote professionals' wellbeing.

The Effects of an Educational Program on the Professional Quality of Life and Health of Nurses: A Cluster Experimental Design

BACKGROUND

The complexity of the healthcare environment and intense workloads may negatively impact the health and professional quality of life (ProQOL) of nurses. Prior research has identified a significant association in nurses between ProQOL and health. Developing an intervention to improve the ProQOL and health of nurses may benefit the quality of nursing care.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a compassion fatigue Resiliency, mindfulness Respiration, and Relatives and friends' support (i.e., 3Rs) educational program on ProQOL, physical health, and mental health in nurses.

METHODS

A cluster experimental design was used in this study to recruit registered nurses at two regional teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan as participants. The experimental group (n = 67) attended the 4-week (2-hours-per-week) 3R educational program. The control group (n = 57) received no intervention. The outcome variables, including compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, physical health, and mental health, were measured at baseline, at the end of the intervention (immediate effect), at 4 weeks postintervention (short-term effect), and at 12 weeks postintervention (medium-term effect). The study was conducted from May 2017 to December 2017.

RESULTS

Increases in compassion satisfaction and mental health and decreases in secondary traumatic stress were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group between baseline and all three posttest time points. Moreover, burnout decreased and physical health improved more significantly in the experimental group than in the control group between the baseline and end of intervention time points (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The 3R educational program intervention, integrating compassion fatigue resiliency, mindfulness respiration, and support from relatives and friends, had immediate and positive effects on ProQOL as well as physical and mental health. Moreover, the intervention was shown to have short-term and medium-term positive effects on compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and mental health. Nursing managers may apply programs that integrate compassion fatigue resiliency, mindfulness respiration, and relatives and friends' support to improve ProQOL and health in nurses.

Is nurses' clinical competence associated with their compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress? A cross-sectional study

Aim

The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical competence and subscale of professional quality of life (ProQOL).

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to May 2019 on 291 nurses working in public hospitals in south Iran (Rafsanjan). The nurses were selected by convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the ProQOL questionnaire that included three subscales: compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress and burnout and the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurse (CIRN) that measured clinical competence.

Results

A significant positive relationship was observed between compassion satisfaction and clinical competence. A significant negative association was found between compassion satisfaction and secondary traumatic stress/burnout and also between secondary traumatic stress and clinical competence. The results of regression analysis indicated that compassion satisfaction was the best predictor of secondary traumatic stress (R2 = 65%), burnout (R2 = 40%) and clinical competence (R2 = 12%). Moreover, secondary traumatic stress was found to be the best predictor of compassion satisfaction (R2 = 53%).

Professional Quality of Life Factors and Relationships in Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing Students: An Exploratory Study

INTRODUCTION

Professional quality of life (ProQOL) that encompasses compassion satisfaction (CS) and compassion fatigue (CF) comprised of burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) has been raised as a world-wide issue for the nursing profession. Limited attention has been paid to the vulnerabilities of nursing students to ProQOL and the associated mechanisms.

PURPOSE

Determine what factors are predictive of ProQOL in a population of undergraduate nursing and psychiatric nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted comprised demographic questions and four validated measures: the Professional Quality of Life Scale (version 5), Core Self-Evaluations Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Life Events Checklist (version 5).

RESULTS

Students in long-term care-palliative care rotations reported significantly higher levels of BO in comparison to other care areas. Regression analysis revealed students with low self-efficacy and high perceived stress were predictive of BO. Students with increased exposures to prior traumatizing life events were predictive of STS. Students with high levels of self-efficacy and less intent-to-leave were predictive of having CS.

CONCLUSION

Findings assist educators, clinicians, and policy makers in understanding at-risk clinical settings and predictors of ProQOL in pre-licensure students. Curricular recommendations that include mindfulness, coping and crisis peer-debriefing, and emotional intelligence are discussed.

Evaluation of Psychometric Properties of Professional Quality of Life Scale Among Nurses in Singapore

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Nurses experience compassion fatigue (CF), depression, burnout (BO), and even signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) among nurses in the Southeast Asia context.

METHODS

Psychometric testing of interitem correlations and reliability, and both convergent and discriminant validity, as well as construct validity analyses was conducted among 1,338 nurses from two academic centers in Singapore.

RESULTS

Findings demonstrated significant interconstruct correlations among the three subscales of ProQOL, namely compassion satisfaction (CS), BO, and secondary traumatic stress (STS). ProQOL displayed satisfactory internal consistency and discriminant validity.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychometric properties of the CS component were found to be satisfactory. ProQOL may be integrated into strategies in supporting and improving nurses' QoL which could focus to lessen BO and CF at work, as well as improving individual satisfaction in the care of patients.

Professional quality of life, depression, and meaning in life among helping professionals: The moderating role of self-competence in death work

We examined the moderating role of self-competence in death work, and the relationships of professional quality of life with personal well-being and self-competence in death work. Two hundred helping professionals (mean age = 40.43, 85.5% female) completed a questionnaire. Better professional quality of life (i.e., a higher level of compassion satisfaction and lower levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress) was associated with better personal well-being and self-competence in death work. Self-competence in death work moderated the negative impact of a lower level of compassion satisfaction on depression. Implications on self-care of helping professionals doing death work are discussed.

Brief Workplace Interventions Addressing Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Teamwork: A Pilot Study

Burnout and compassion fatigue are problematic for nurses, patients, and organizations. Identifying brief interventions nurses can engage in while at work to address compassion fatigue, burnout, and teamwork, as burnout and teamwork are inversely related, is important for all stakeholders. This quasi-experimental pilot study sought to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of five-minute interventions on nurses' burnout, compassion fatigue, and perceptions of teamwork. Nurses were randomized into five groups: meditation, journaling, gratitude, outside, and control. Participants engaged in the interventions, the majority of shifts worked, and many expressed a desire to continue after the six-week intervention period. Cohen's d effect sizes were greatest for burnout, range 0.495-0.757, and situation monitoring, range 0.252-1.1. The journaling group had the highest burnout (-11.88%), compassion satisfaction (7.54%), situation monitoring (-21.21%), and communication (-26.47%) Delta scores. Feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of these brief workplace interventions were preliminarily established to inform a larger study.