Abstract
Introduction/Background
Providing compassionate care is a fundamental aim of healthcare professionals, providing them with a sense of value, and benefiting patients by reducing their anxiety, increasing trust, treatment adherence and clinical outcomes. When a healthcare professional experiences compassion fatigue (CF) they lose their sense of empathy and compassion, leading to depersonalised patient interactions. The aim of this narrative review is to synthesise the literature on the impact of CF in healthcare and examine management strategies.
Methods
We conducted a narrative review (1) of empirical research on compassion fatigue in healthcare workers over the past 20 years. Our search yielded 290 results from MEDLINE, 112 from CINAHL Plus, and 215 from PsycINFO.
Results/Evaluation
CF was commonly assessed using the ProQOL Scale. CF has two key components: burnout and secondary traumatic stress, manifesting as exhaustion, impaired coping, reduced self-care and loss of empathy. Symptoms include distress, anxiety, depression, dysfunctional coping behaviours and physical ailments such as headache. CF risk factors include working in critical care, having difficult discussions with patients and loved ones, working long hours and a perceived lack of managerial support. Personal risk factors include those with less healthcare experience and higher clinical empathy. Effective management requires a multifaceted approach involving screening, prevention, and intervention at individual and organisational levels. Individuals can engage in self-care and self-compassion, while organisations should implement CF screening, training, and peer support programs. Promoting trauma-informed workplace cultures, providing debriefing opportunities, and ensuring adequate staffing levels are critical in mitigating CF.
Discussion
Further research is needed to understand the prevalence of CF across diverse healthcare professions and student cohorts, explore its lived experience, and evaluate interventions. This will help shape institutional strategies to support staff well-being, implement targeted measures for those at higher risk of CF, and ultimately enhance patient care and outcomes.
Providing compassionate care is a fundamental aim of healthcare professionals, providing them with a sense of value, and benefiting patients by reducing their anxiety, increasing trust, treatment adherence and clinical outcomes. When a healthcare professional experiences compassion fatigue (CF) they lose their sense of empathy and compassion, leading to depersonalised patient interactions. The aim of this narrative review is to synthesise the literature on the impact of CF in healthcare and examine management strategies.
Methods
We conducted a narrative review (1) of empirical research on compassion fatigue in healthcare workers over the past 20 years. Our search yielded 290 results from MEDLINE, 112 from CINAHL Plus, and 215 from PsycINFO.
Results/Evaluation
CF was commonly assessed using the ProQOL Scale. CF has two key components: burnout and secondary traumatic stress, manifesting as exhaustion, impaired coping, reduced self-care and loss of empathy. Symptoms include distress, anxiety, depression, dysfunctional coping behaviours and physical ailments such as headache. CF risk factors include working in critical care, having difficult discussions with patients and loved ones, working long hours and a perceived lack of managerial support. Personal risk factors include those with less healthcare experience and higher clinical empathy. Effective management requires a multifaceted approach involving screening, prevention, and intervention at individual and organisational levels. Individuals can engage in self-care and self-compassion, while organisations should implement CF screening, training, and peer support programs. Promoting trauma-informed workplace cultures, providing debriefing opportunities, and ensuring adequate staffing levels are critical in mitigating CF.
Discussion
Further research is needed to understand the prevalence of CF across diverse healthcare professions and student cohorts, explore its lived experience, and evaluate interventions. This will help shape institutional strategies to support staff well-being, implement targeted measures for those at higher risk of CF, and ultimately enhance patient care and outcomes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators Conference (ANZAHPE 2025): Embracing the Future: Abstract Book, 30 June - 3 July, 2025, Perth, Western Australia |
| Place of Publication | Adelaide, S.A. |
| Publisher | Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780648828556 |
| Publication status | Published - 2025 |
| Event | Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators. Conference - Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth, Australia Duration: 30 Jun 2025 → 3 Jul 2025 |
Conference
| Conference | Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators. Conference |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ANZAHPE |
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Perth |
| Period | 30/06/25 → 3/07/25 |
Keywords
- Compassion fatigue, healthcare professionals, secondary traumatic stress, trauma informed, burnout.
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