Predictive and protective factors of compassion fatigue among health care professionals in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital – Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract

Compassion fatigue is a condition unique to the human service occupations, characterized by a state of tension and preoccupation with the traumatized clients by re-experiencing their traumatic events. With increased incidences of traumatic events both nationally and globally, the greater burden of care and after-care is usually borne by health care professionals. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive and protective factors of compassion fatigue among health care professionals in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Eldoret, Kenya. Approval to conduct this study was obtained from the Institutional Research Ethics Committee (IREC) which evaluates proposals for (Moi University & MTRH)), and the National Commission of Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI). The target population was health care professionals working in twelve units (grouped into more traumatizing and less traumatizing) offering specialized patient care services in MTRH. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 82 health care professionals comprising of 19 Doctors, 54 Nurses and 9 Counselors. The study was guided by Figley Model of Compassion Fatigue. The study adopted the Ex Post Facto research design. The independent variables were Work Setting and Years of Experience as predictors, Self-care as a protective factor while Compassion Fatigue was the dependent variable. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, the “Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQoL) version V” and the Self-Care Assessment Worksheet. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS - version 20.0). Analysis involved descriptive statistics, regression, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-tests. All the inferential statistics were tested at 0.05 level of significance and data presented in form of percentages, frequencies and means while graphic presentation was in form of charts, graphs and frequency tables. The study revealed that Work Experience and Work Setting were statistically significant predictors of Compassion Fatigue with F(3,69) = 5,281, p< 0.002 and t(66.309) = 6.266, p< 0.000 respectively. Self-care was found to be negatively correlated to Compassion Fatigue (r = - 0.766, p< 0.000). The fitted regression model explained 76.1% (R 2 = 0.761, F=43.927, p< 0.000) of the total variation of compassion fatigue in MTRH. The findings of this study will be useful to health care professionals in understanding compassion fatigue and possible interventions required to minimize it. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the management of MTRH should support self-care activities among its staff at both personal and organization level and especially in high risk work settings. On matters of policy, professional licensing bodies such as Kenya Medical Association, Kenya Counseling and Psychological Association, Nursing Council of Kenya which license doctors, counselors and nurses respectively should include self-care, wellness and impairment of care providers in their respective curricular.