Who is at risk for compassion fatigue? An investigation of genetic counselor demographics, anxiety, compassion satisfaction, and burnout.
Compassion fatigue is a state of detachment and isolation experienced when healthcare providers repeatedly engage with patients in distress. Compassion fatigue can hinder empathy and cause extreme tension. Prior research suggests 73.8 % of genetic counselors are at moderate to high risk for compassion fatigue and approximately 1 in 4 have considered leaving the field as a result Injeyan et al. (Journal of Genetic Counseling, 20, 526-540, 2011). Empirical data to establish a reliable profile of genetic counselors at risk for compassion fatigue are limited. Thus the purpose of this study was to establish a profile by assessing relationships between state and trait anxiety, burnout, compassion satisfaction, selected demographics and compassion fatigue risk in practicing genetic counselors. Practicing genetic counselors (n = 402) completed an anonymous, online survey containing demographic questions, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Professional Quality of Life scale. Multiple regression analysis yielded four significant predictors which increase compassion fatigue risk (accounting for 48 % of the variance): higher levels of trait anxiety, burnout, and compassion satisfaction, and ethnicity other than Caucasian. Additional findings, study limitations, practice implications, and research recommendations are provided.
Medical Division, Genzyme Korea Co., Ltd, Seoul, South Korea.
Whiwon
W
Lee
Patricia McCarthy
PM
Veach
Ian M
IM
MacFarlane
Bonnie S
BS
LeRoy
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology; D000068376:Compassion Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003710:Demography; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult