title: An investigation into the Professional Quality of Life of dietitians working in acute care caseloads: are we doing enough to look after our own?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of compassion fatigue (CF) has been described across a variety of acute care caseloads in some health professions. The present study was undertaken to determine whether dietitians working in these caseloads also experience CF.
  
  
  METHODS
  A voluntary, anonymous survey incorporating the Professional Quality of Life tool was developed in an online format, and was e-mailed to dietitians working in public acute care settings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-seven completed surveys were returned. Average rates of compassion satisfaction (CS) and burnout and low rates of secondary traumatic stress (STS) were reported. Dietitians in high-risk workloads reported higher levels of STS than those with low-risk workloads (χ2 = 5.4, P = 0.02). Differences in STS were found between those practising in paediatric compared to adult caseloads (χ2 = 16.6, P < 0.01). Dietitians in smaller facilities reported higher STS (χ2 = 10.6, P < 0.01) and lower CS (P = 0.05) than larger facilities. Working for >5 years as a dietitian was associated with higher rates of STS and burnout than in those working for <5 years (χ2 = 7.9, P = 0.05 and χ2 = 3.8, P = 0.05, respectively). Those who perceived greater levels of support reported lower rates of burnout (r(s) = -0.41, P < 0.01) and higher rates of CS (r(s) = 0.39, P < 0.01) than those not feeling supported. All dietitians reported undertaking self-care practices; however, up to 24% reported practices that may represent maladaptive coping methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the present study suggests dietitians experience a good professional quality of life, vulnerable areas were identified, suggesting the need for additional support in some areas of dietetic practice.
authors: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia.|Faculty of Health Science, School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors: E J
authors: EJ
authors: Osland
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional; D002648:Child; D000068376:Compassion Fatigue; D003422:Critical Care; D004046:Dietetics; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D064686:Nutritionists / Q000523:psychology*; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Professional Quality of Life; burnout; compassion fatigue; dietetics