Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Compassion Satisfaction as Risk/Protective Factors from Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in Healthcare and Education Professionals

Online yoga programme for resident physicians in Québec: an evaluation of feasibility and impact on mental health

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the feasibility of the Bali Yoga Programme for Residents (PYB-R), an 8-week virtual yoga-based intervention and determine its impact on the mental health of resident physicians.

DESIGN

Single-group repeated measures study.

SETTING

Associations from the four postgraduate medical education programmes in Québec, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

Overall, 55 resident physicians were recruited to participate of which 53 (96.4%) completed the assessment pre-PYB-R. The postintervention assessment was completed by 43 residents (78.2%) and 39 (70.9%) completed all phases (including 3-month follow-up). Most were in their first year (43.4%) or second year (32.1%) of residency. The majority were female (81.1%) with a mean age of 28±3.6 years.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was feasibility as measured by participation in the PYB-R. Secondary outcome measures were psychological variables (anxiety, depression, burn-out, emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction) and satisfaction with the PYB-R. Residents were further subgrouped based on the quality of work life and a number of PYB-R sessions attended.

RESULTS

The attrition rate for programme completion was 19%. Of the 43 residents who completed the PYB-R, 90.6% attended between 6 and 8 sessions. Repeated-measures analysis of variances (ANOVAs) at three time points (baseline, PYB-R completion and 3-month follow-up) confirmed a decrease in scores for depression and anxiety, and an increase in scores for compassion satisfaction. No changes were observed in the other psychological variables evaluated. ANOVAs also confirmed that a better quality of life at work helps develop compassion satisfaction, a protective factor to compassion fatigue. Most participants (92.9%) indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of the programme.

CONCLUSIONS

A virtual yoga-based programme is feasible and has lasting positive effects for up to 3 months on the mental health of resident physicians. Further research is warranted to validate these findings using a larger sample of residents with a control group.

High sensitivity groups with distinct personality patterns: a person-centered perspective

Introduction

Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) refers to interindividual differences in sensitivity to positive and negative environmental stimuli and reflects the concept of differential susceptibility. The Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) has been utilized to capture the multifaceted experiences of highly sensitive individuals. The scale's total score (i.e., the sum of the subfactors) is an indicator of high sensitivity. However, it cannot differentiate between the contributions of the specific subfactors. Consequently, interpreting the total score cannot help resolve the current theoretical debate about how individuals integrate the positive and negative aspects of sensitivity, whereas a multidimensional profile should be able to offer a more comprehensive understanding. Intriguingly, in variable-centered research, the subfactors' differential associations with external constructs in negative or positive trait spaces have suggested heterogeneity (i.e., interindividual differences) among highly sensitive individuals. Thus, person-centered approaches should be better suited to address this heterogeneity.

Methods

To explore heterogeneity within the highly sensitive population, we conducted a three-step Latent Profile Analysis in two independent German-speaking samples (N = 1,102; N = 526). Subsequently, we employed the Five-Factor Model of personality to provide a detailed description of the latent sensitivity groups.

Results

Beyond the frequently identified quantitative three-class differentiation of sensitivity groups, we obtained a four-class model that included two qualitatively different high-sensitivity groups, each displaying distinct HSPS subfactor and personality patterns that corresponded to prototypical personality profiles. Within these high sensitivity groups, (i) the Confident Sensitivity Group exhibited average Neuroticism, significantly above-average Openness, and slightly above-average Extraversion. By contrast, (ii) the Vulnerable Sensitivity Group displayed the typical personality pattern of significantly above-average Neuroticism, below-average Extraversion, and slightly above-average Openness. Personality analyses revealed that features such as passiveness, internalizing tendencies, giftedness, and aesthetics, often commonly ascribed to all highly sensitive individuals, are features that differ across distinct sensitivity groups.

Discussion

To avoid over- or underestimating sensitivity effects, future research should consider these interindividual differences in highly sensitive individuals. For instance, studies could focus on the different associations of sensitivity groups with abilities, health aspects, emotion regulation and intervention outcomes, taking into account the different environmental factors that shape the type of sensitivity.

Sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue in intensive care unit nurses: A chain mediation model

BACKGROUND

Compassion among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses is an essential component of humanistic care in the ICU However, the enormous pressures of the job and the lack of social support have led to persistently severe compassion fatigue. Sensory processing sensitivity, as a personality trait for individuals to perceive external factors, has underlying significance for compassion fatigue.

AIMS

This study aims to investigate the internal and external environmental factors and the underlying mechanisms that influence the impact of sensory processing sensitivity among ICU nurses on the development of compassion fatigue.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 290 nurses from various hospitals in five cities in China.

METHOD

A self-designed demographic questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Professional Quality of Life Scale, the Chinese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, the Chinese version of the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale were used to survey 290 ICU nurses. The mediating roles of perceived social support and perceived stress between sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue were tested.

RESULTS

The research results indicate that the total effect of sensory processing sensitivity on compassion fatigue is significant (0.245 [0.093, 1.160]), whereas the direct effect of sensory processing sensitivity on compassion fatigue is not significant (-0.43 [-0.402, 0.247]). Perceived social support and perceived stress exhibit serial mediating effects between sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue (-0.065 [-0.142, -0.013]).

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed, for the first time, the underlying mechanism between sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue among ICU nurses. Providing necessary stress-relief condition and abundant social support are important measures for nursing managers to reduce compassion fatigue and improve the quality of critical care humanistic nursing services.

Attachment styles and empathy in trainee nurses: the mediating and moderating roles of attitudes toward death

Aim

A growing body of evidence has shown that attachment styles and death attitudes have a significant impact on empathy. This study aimed to explore the precise role of death attitudes in the relationship between attachment styles and empathy levels among trainee nurses.

Methods

A total of 626 Chinese trainee nurses with different attachment types were enrolled, and their attachment styles, death attitudes, and empathy levels were assessed using the Revised Adult Attachment Scale, the Death Attitude Profile-Revised, and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Healthy Professionals, and finally, data from 566 participants were included for statistical analysis.

Results

We found that among trainee nurses with secure attachment type, fear of death, approach acceptance, escape acceptance, and neutral acceptance (-) mediated the relationships between attachment-related avoidance/anxiety and their overall empathy levels and all its dimensions; in the preoccupied type, only neutral acceptance (-) mediated the relationships between attachment-related avoidance and their overall empathy levels and compassionate care; and in the fearful type, only fear of death mediated the relationship between attachment-related avoidance and compassionate care. Furthermore, in the secure type, neutral acceptance attenuated the negative predictions of attachment-related avoidance on overall empathy level and perspective taking.

Conclusion

Attitudes toward death played different mediating and moderating roles in the relationship between attachment styles and empathy among trainee nurses with different attachment types. In addition to acculturated empathy-specific training, targeted education related to death for trainee nurses with different attachment types is needed to prevent their compassion fatigue.

Aesthetic sensitivity: relationship with openness to experience and agreeableness, health-related quality of life and adaptive coping strategies in people with high sensory processing sensitivity

Aesthetic sensitivity in people with high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) reflects the positive perception of life, especially aspects related to the arts and nature. This study is focused on the analysis of the effect of aesthetic sensitivity in relation to indicators of health-related quality of life (general health, mental health and emotional role), the personality traits openness to experience and agreeableness, and coping strategies in people with SPS. The adult participants (N = 10,520, mean age = 33.61) completed the Spanish versions of the High Sensitivity Person Scale (HSPS-S), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI). It was observed that people with high aesthetic sensitivity presented greater openness and agreeableness, tended to use adaptive coping strategies and showed a slightly poorer functioning in different areas of daily living. Moreover, health-related quality of life, mental health and adaptive coping strategies occupied central positions in the correlations between variables, with a positive impact between mental health and adaptive coping strategies with openness and agreeableness. Lastly, the level of aesthetic sensitivity did not play a moderator role, and it exerted no differential influence on its relationship with the analysed variables. Now, it has been found that people with high levels of aesthetic sensitivity cope more adequately, which would cushion the effect that high SPS can have on mental health, specifically on anxious and depressive symptoms. It is concluded that these findings are relevant and useful for future propositions of prevention and clinical intervention, as well as for counselling in the psychoeducational, labour and family scopes, amongst others.

Prevalence of Highly Sensitive Personality and Its Relationship With Depression, and Anxiety in the Saudi General Population

Background Highly sensitive personality (HSP) occurs in those who experience stronger processing of emotions and responses to both internal and external stimuli; this, in turn, could cause persons with highly sensitive personalities to suffer from affective disorders such as depression and anxiety at higher rates. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of highly sensitive personality and its relationship with depression and anxiety among the Saudi general population. Subject and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population in Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to the target population using an online survey. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic data (i.e., age, gender, marital status, etc.), the Highly Sensitive Person Scale to measure the degree of sensitivity, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to measure anxiety and depression. Results Of the 438 participants, 72.6% were females, and 48.9% were aged between 18 to 25 years. The prevalence of HSP in this study was 29%. Abnormal levels of anxiety and depression were found in 29.5% and 19.9%, respectively. Significant relationships were observed between HSP in terms of anxiety (p<0.001) and depression (p=0.001). It is interesting to note that a previous diagnosis of mental disorder was identified as a significant risk factor for HSP, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of HSP in our population, which was significantly associated with anxiety and depression. Further, female participants were more likely to exhibit HSP and anxiety but not depression. These findings highlight the importance of prevention programs intended for highly sensitive persons with associated mental conditions.

Study of the Relationship between Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Burnout Syndrome among Speech and Language Therapists

BACKGROUND

Burnout syndrome can arise due to either situational factors such as working conditions, or dispositional factors such as certain temperaments, like a high sensory processing sensitivity. We aim to address the relative absence of studies on speech-language therapists and seek to determine the role of high sensitivity for these healthcare workers in relation to burnout syndrome.

METHOD

The sample consisted of 602 female speech-language pathologists who anonymously completed a questionnaire measuring burnout (ProQOL 5th edition) and sensory processing sensitivity (HSPS-FR).

RESULTS

The results revealed that 77.41% of the participants reported moderate or high burnout scores. Furthermore, the analyses revealed that highly sensitive participants are more vulnerable to burnout than others.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the negative impact of high sensory processing sensitivity on burnout. However, according to the kind of sensitivity, we discuss the way in which highly sensitive caregivers can master this sensitivity in order to use it as a strength in their professions and to spare themselves from suffering deleterious effects, such as compassion fatigue and/or burnout.

Compassion fatigue in healthcare providers: a scoping review

The detrimental impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare providers' psychological health and well-being continue to affect their professional roles and activities, leading to compassion fatigue. The purpose of this review was to identify and summarize published literature on compassion fatigue among healthcare providers and its impact on patient care. Six databases were searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, for studies on compassion fatigue in healthcare providers, published in English from the peak of the pandemic in 2020 to 2023. To expand the search, reference lists of included studies were hand searched to locate additional relevant studies. The studies primarily focused on nurses, physicians, and other allied health professionals. This scoping review was registered on Open Science Framework (OSF), using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) extension to scoping review. From 11,715 search results, 24 met the inclusion criteria. Findings are presented using four themes: prevalence of compassion fatigue; antecedents of compassion fatigue; consequences of compassion fatigue; and interventions to address compassion fatigue. The potential antecedents of compassion fatigue are grouped under individual-, organization-, and systems-level factors. Our findings suggest that healthcare providers differ in risk for developing compassion fatigue in a country-dependent manner. Interventions such as increasing available personnel helped to minimize the occurrence of compassion fatigue. This scoping review offers important insight on the common causes and potential risks for compassion fatigue among healthcare providers and identifies potential strategies to support healthcare providers' psychological health and well-being.

Instruments for assessing health workers' burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers' workload is increasing, with the risk of burnout. Several instruments for assessing burnout have been developed since the concept was coined in the 1970s. It is important to map and describe the application of burnout instruments for health workers in the current COVID-19 pandemic situation.

AIMS

This article aimed to map and describe what instruments are used and variations of their application to research burnout in health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This scoping review searched articles systematically through 7 databases (PubMed, Clinical Key, Scopus, EBSCOhost, APA PsycINFO, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library). Articles were screened and analyzed following the Arksey and O'Malley framework.

RESULTS

From 507 results, 31 peer-reviewed articles were selected. These studies involved 33,879 participants from various health professions. Generally, the research instrument is still dominated by Maslach Burnout Inventory. Applications of burnout measurements vary widely because there is no consensus on the concept of burnout assessment.

CONCLUSION

Inconsistency in burnout-measuring tools can be seen as providing flexibility and alternatives, but at the same time, it is a gap that challenges researchers to develop more comprehensive instruments, especially for the burnout phenomenon in health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Compassion Fatigue and Ethical Attitudes in Nursing Care in Intensive Care Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses faced an increased risk of compassion fatigue and ethical concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE

To evaluate compassion fatigue of ICU nurses and their ethical attitudes in care during the COVID-19 pandemic and analyze contributing factors.

METHODS

An exploratory cross-sectional research design was used.

RESULTS

A total of 103 ICU nurses participated. The nurses' compassion fatigue and ethical attitude scores were high. Compassion fatigue was explained by the following variables: considering resigning, receiving support for ethical decisions, willingness to work in the ICU, duration of providing activities of daily living in a shift, and number of patients per nurse.

CONCLUSIONS

Compassion fatigue was high in nurses working in the ICU during COVID-19. The high level of ethical attitudes shows commitment to professional ethics and reflects the development of the nurses' professional identity. Implementation of interventions that help improve compassion fatigue among nurses is needed.

Psychological Effects of Professional Exposure to Trauma and Human Suffering: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Over the past decades, a growing interest has emerged toward understanding the impact that the exposure to human suffering produces in mental health professionals, leading to the identification of three constructs: vicarious traumatization (VT), compassion fatigue (CF), and secondary trauma (ST). However, little is known about how these conditions affect psychologists. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted to examine the evidence about the effects of occupational exposure to trauma and suffering in studies that included psychologists among their samples. Fifty-two studies were included comprising 10,233 participants. Overall, the results showed that most professionals did not experience relevant distress due to their work, yet some of them developed clinically significant symptoms (i.e., PTSD). However, solid conclusions could not be drawn due to the numerous methodological difficulties found in this research field (i.e., group heterogeneity, lack of comparison groups, and conceptual overlap). Thus, it is necessary to further investigate this topic with scientific rigor to understand these stressors and develop evidence-based interventions.

Occupational Psychosocial Risks and Quality of Professional Life in Service Sector Workers with Sensory Processing Sensitivity

The aim of this study was to analyze the role of sensory processing sensitivity in the perception of stress under certain working conditions and its relationship with indicators of quality of professional life, in service sector workers. The participants (n = 3180) completed the Spanish versions of HSPS-S, CoPSoQ and ProQoL. The results show that exposure to certain working conditions represents a risk to the quality of professional life in workers of different fields, such as education, healthcare, hospitality and administration/management. The presence of high sensitivity is associated with poorer quality of professional life, specifically burnout and compassion fatigue. This study demonstrates the need to develop prevention programs aimed at managing stress by improving the working conditions, in order to adequately address sensory processing sensitivity and, consequently, promote the quality of professional life of service sector workers who present high sensitivity.

Compassion fatigue in healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the psychological health and well-being of healthcare providers. An amplification in chronic stressors, workload and fatalities may have increased the risk of compassion fatigue and disrupted the quality of patient care. Although current studies have explored the general psychological status of healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, few have focused on compassion fatigue. The purpose of this review is to explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on compassion fatigue in healthcare providers and the repercussions of compassion fatigue on patient care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This scoping review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute and Arksey and O'Malley scoping review methodology. Comprehensive searches will be conducted in the following relevant databases: MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science. To expand the search, reference lists of included studies will be handsearched for additional relevant studies. Included studies must report on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on compassion fatigue in healthcare providers and have been published in English since January 2020.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This review does not require research ethics board approval. By examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on compassion fatigue in healthcare providers, this scoping review can offer important insight into the possible risks, protective factors and strategies to support healthcare providers' psychological health and patient care amidst persisting stressful conditions.

Must one take the bitter with the sweet? Sensory processing sensitivity and factors associated with resilience among artistically inclined individuals

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), linked with a penchant for the arts and creativity, exerts its bivalent influences, contingent on context, on individuals' health-related outcomes. But little is known about how it interacts with creative self-concept (CSC). Focusing on the role of SPS, this study identified risk and protective factors of resilience among artistically inclined individuals from middle to later life during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) restriction period and examined the interaction effect between SPS and CSC on depression. Two stages of analyses were pursued. Stage 1 identified factors associated with resilience by using regression and profile analyses on data from 224 anonymized respondents from middle to third age (M_age = 54.08, SD = 10.08, range = 40-84) with diverse disciplinary backgrounds in visual arts. Stage 2 examined the influence of SPS on the relationship between CSC and depression. SPS, lack of peer support of shared interests in the arts, and depression emerged as risk factors associated with lower levels of resilience. The profiles of SPS components among the relatively high and low resilience groups were found to be divergent. The effects of CSC on depression were contingent upon SPS, controlling for neuroticism. The findings call for future research to examine the differential correlational patterns among the SPS components and neuroticism across different populations. The risk/protective factors and patterns found in this study provide directions for research in SPS and applied work to support artistically inclined individuals from middle to later life.

Personality Traits and Coping Strategies as Psychological Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Highly Sensitive Persons

Sensory-Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is the reactivity to different stimuli that occurs in some people with sufficient intensity to cause interference in daily life. There are not many previous studies that determine the influence of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies on health-related quality of life through indicators of mental (anxiety and depression) and physical (vitality) health and functioning in their lives in different contexts (emotional role functioning). In this sense, contexts that promote the use of successful stress-coping strategies are related to the presence of positive mental health outcomes. This study focuses on the analysis of indicators of health-related quality of life in people with SPS in relation to certain personality traits and coping strategies. Participants (N = 10,525) completed HSPS-S, NEO-FFI, CSI, and SF-36. Differences were observed between men and women. Differences indicated that women had higher SPS scores compared to men and poorer health-related quality of life. The results showed significant relationships with the three indicators of health-related quality of life. Finally, it is confirmed that neuroticism and the use of maladaptive coping strategies act as risk factors, whereas extraversion, conscientiousness, and adaptive coping strategies act as protective factors. These findings highlight the need to develop prevention programs for highly sensitive persons.

Compassion as a Source of Satisfaction and Fear in Professionals Who Work With People

BACKGROUND

Compassion satisfaction and fear of compassion affect the mental health of professionals who work with people. In addition, each of these two variables can be important indicators of the quality of the services such professionals provide.

METHODS

This study examines compassion as a source of satisfaction and fear among 293 professionals work with people, including 158 teachers, 57 police officers, 45 nurses and 44 imams. A personal information form, the Fear of Compassion Scale, and the Compassion Satisfaction Scale were used as data collection tools.

RESULTS

Neither fear of compassion nor compassion satisfaction varied significantly according to the sampled professionals' genders, educational levels, monthly incomes or area of residence. However, both these measures did exhibit statistically significant variation by the respondents' professional roles, ages, numbers of children and marital statuses. A significant negative relationship between the participants' fear of compassion and their compassion satisfaction was also identified.

CONCLUSION

Courses related to kindness and social interaction should be provided in schools, to help the adults of the future.

Prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors - a scoping review

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic exerted significant mental burden on healthcare workers (HCWs) operating in the frontline of the COVID-19 care as they experienced high levels of stress and burnout. The aim of this scoping review was to identify prevalence and factors associated with burnout among HCWs during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Studies were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: cross-sectional, longitudinal, case-control, or qualitative analyses, published in peer-reviewed journals, between January 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021. Studies carried out on other occupations than healthcare workers or related to other pandemics than COVID-19 were excluded. Following the abstract screen, from 141 original papers identified, 69 articles were eventually selected. A large variation in the reported burnout prevalence among HCWs (4.3-90.4%) was observed. The main factors associated with increase/ decrease of burnout included: demographic characteristics (age, gender, education level, financial situation, family status, occupation), psychological condition (psychiatric diseases, stress, anxiety, depression, coping style), social factors (stigmatisation, family life), work organization (workload, working conditions, availability of staff and materials, support at work), and factors related with COVID-19 (fear of COVID-19, traumatic events, contact with patients with COVID-19, having been infected with COVID-19, infection of a colleague or a relative with COVID-19, higher number of deaths observed by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic). The findings should be useful for policy makers and healthcare managers in developing programs preventing burnout during the current and future pandemics. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(1):21-58.

The Relationship Between Coping Strategies, Compassion Satisfaction, and Compassion Fatigue During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction

The rapid spread of COVID-19 poses a significant threat to nurses' lives and health, resulting in varying degrees of mental distress. Nurses may experience compassion fatigue, and their professional quality of life and satisfaction may suffer as a result. Their coping mechanisms may vary as well, influencing their compassionate and safe care.

Objectives

The study's objectives are to explore levels of compassion satisfaction and fatigue among nurses and identify their coping strategies. Further, to investigate the relationship between coping strategies, compassion satisfaction, and compassion fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Using a descriptive correlational design, this study was conducted with a convenience sample of 443 nurses working in an Egyptian university hospital. Nurses completed the coping strategy indicator scale and the professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue) scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis.

Results

Nurses' professional quality of life was average in terms of compassion satisfaction (2.95 ± 0.92) and compassion fatigue (2.38 ± 0.35). Nurses have a moderate use of coping strategies (2.13 ± 0.35). Problem-solving was rated as the highest coping strategy, while avoidance was rated as the lowest. Coping strategies showed a positive correlation with compassion satisfaction (r = 0.503, p < .001) and a negative correlation with compassion fatigue (r = -0.352, p < .001). In addition, coping strategies could predict 25.4% and 12.4% of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, respectively (p < .001).

Conclusion

Compassion satisfaction and fatigue are key determinants of nurses' quality of work life. Coping strategies, especially problem-solving and support systems, are vital to increase compassion satisfaction and mitigate burnout and secondary stress syndrome. Nurse managers should establish supportive work environments that promote nurses' well-being. Resilience-building programs and coping strategies' training are recommended to enhance the nurses' quality of work life and positive work attitudes.

Professional quality of life among Spanish veterinarians

Background

In Spain, the perceived professional quality of life among veterinarians has not been explored.

Methods

Veterinarians were invited to complete an online questionnaire in which they answered the Professional Quality of Life scale, the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Participants were asked whether they were receiving psychological therapy or were taking anxiolytics, hypnotics or antidepressant medication. Alcohol consumption was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerström test; participants were asked whether they took illegal drugs.

Results

The study sample comprised a total of 602 veterinarians, most of whom reported average levels of compassion satisfaction, secondary stress trauma and burnout. Emotional support and mental wellbeing influenced participants' professional quality of life. The percentage of veterinarians in psychological therapy and/or taking anxiolytics was higher than in the general population.

Conclusions

A considerable number of clinical veterinarians in Spain may be suffering from work-related stress. Our study identifies salary, emotional support and mental wellbeing as important factors that affect the professional quality of life. Interventions to improve veterinary clinicians' professional quality of life should therefore focus on these factors.

The path of depression among frontline nurses during COVID-19 pandemic: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis

This study aimed to explore the combination of different conditional variables that led to depressive symptoms among frontline nurses who were fought against COVID-19 during the outbreak in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. The study was conducted in August 2020, which included 331 frontline clinical nurses who supported Wuhan's fight against COVID-19. The age range was 21-57 years and included 315 female nurses and 16 male nurses. This study used the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis research method to explore the path of depression among frontline nurses. This study generated nine different configurations for the path of depression among frontline nurses, and had a detailed demonstration for each configuration. Each configuration distinguishes the different effects of influencing factors. For example, in the first configuration, gender, sleep disorder and PTSD exist as core conditions, while social support exists as a core condition lack. This study was presented results which was different what linear regression model reports. It takes into consideration the combined effect of each conditional variable on the development of depression. Nurse managers should pay attention to the combination of multiple influencing factors, instead of focus on single factors.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Association Between Compassion Fatigue and Psychological Resilience From 2008 to 2021

Aims

A negative association between the lower level of psychological resilience (PR) and increased risk of compassion fatigue (CF) and higher Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stress has been revealed. However, bibliometric studies have not been performed to comprehensively investigate this topic. This study aimed to identify the status and trends in the CF and PR field from 2008 to 2021 and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We identified relevant literature from the Web of Science Core Collection® database using "resilience" and "compassion fatigue" on September 30, 2021. All search results were exported in plain text format for collaboration network analysis, reference-based co-citation analysis, analysis of journals, and keywords-based co-occurrence analysis, which were performed using Citespace® 5.8.R1.

Results

A total of 388 publications were identified finally, and there has been an increasing trend in the annual number of publications with light fluctuations. The analysis of journals and keywords indicated that nurses and social workers are the main research targets, and their mental problems are the main research topics. The turnover intention of health care providers has been a research focus, particularly during the COVID-19.

Conclusion

The results of the present study help us understand the status of the CF and PR field and its recent developments.

Compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among Chinese palliative care nurses: A province-wide cross-sectional survey

AIMS

We aim to explore the prevalence and potential facilitators and inhibitors of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among Chinese palliative care nurses.

BACKGROUND

Nurses with compassion fatigue may suffer from health-related problems, causing decreased work efficiency and quality of care. Palliative care nurses are especially at risk of compassion fatigue due to close contact with terminal patients.

METHODS

A province-wide cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling was conducted among 318 palliative care nurses at 25 hospitals and healthcare institutions in Sichuan Province, China. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire and five scales: Professional Quality of Life Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, and Connor-Davison Resilience Scale. Data analyses including descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, simple linear regression, and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Mean scores (SD) for burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction were 25.42 (4.75), 26.08 (5.72), and 35.67 (5.77), respectively. Related factors predicted 40.30%, 27.10%, and 35.4% of the variance in the model of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction, respectively (all p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress among Chinese palliative care nurses were higher than those among other types of nurses. Social support, resilience, positive coping, family recognition of work, and income satisfaction are inhibitors of compassion fatigue among palliative care nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nursing administrators and educators should consider providing effective and targeted strategies (e.g. ongoing training and psychological interventions) to decrease compassion fatigue among palliative care nurses based on the cultural and ethical settings.

Evaluating the impact of coronavirus disease on burnout among healthcare workers using maslach burnout inventory tool: A systematic review

Background

Burnout has been prevalent among healthcare workers (HCWs). However, the effect of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic on this phenomenon in HCWs is unclear.

Objective

This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on burnout of HCWs using Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI).

Methods

A systematic search was performed on PubMed database for articles published between 1 December 2019 and 30 June 2021. Search strategy combined terms for HCWs, COVID-19, burnout, and MBI. The main outcome of interest was burnout, including both mean prevalence and MBI scores for high emotional exhaustion (EE), high depersonalisation (DP) and low personal accomplishment (PA).

Results

Four cohort studies, 90 cross-sectional studies and one randomised-controlled trial were included for review. Only one cohort study compared burnout data among HCWs before and during COVID-19. It reported a statistically significant increase in mean EE and PA scores from 21.9 to 24.8 ( p = .001), and 42.7 to 48.7 ( p = .001), respectively. The remaining studies only evaluated burnout data during COVID-19 but were missing burnout data prior to the pandemic for comparison. Across these studies, the overall mean prevalence of burnout among HCWs was 39.95%, with mean MBI EE scores of 22.07, DP scores of 7.83, and PA scores of 32.53. Burnout outcomes were generally comparable across specific healthcare professions such as doctors and nurses.

Conclusion

Whilst quality research elucidating the effect of pandemic on burnout is lacking, current burnout prevalence among HCWs during COVID-19 is notable.

Relationship between Sensitivity Tendency and Psychological Stress Reactivity in Healthy Students

This study examined the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and psychological stress reactivity in 69 healthy Japanese university students. The Japanese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale and the Japanese version of the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile were used for subjective assessment. The Galvanic skin response was measured as an objective measure of stress responses while the participants were completing the Stroop task. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient, and the Mann−Whitney U test were conducted for data analysis. The results demonstrated that there was no significant correlation between the Japanese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale and Galvanic skin response. However, there was a marginal trend toward significance between low registration in the Japanese version of the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and Galvanic skin response (rs = 0.231, p < 0.10; rs = 0.219, p < 0.10), suggesting that self-rated sensitivity was not necessarily associated with objective measures. These results indicate that sensory processing sensitivity analyses require the consideration of the traits and characteristics of the participants and multifaceted evaluations using a sensitivity assessment scale other than the Japanese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale.

Importance of communication in medical practice and medical education: An emphasis on empathy and attitudes and their possible influences

BACKGROUND

Healthcare professionals need to be prepared to promote healthy lifestyles and care for patients. By focusing on what students should be able to perform one day as clinicians, we can bridge the gap between mere theoretical knowledge and its practical application. Gender aspects in clinical medicine also have to be considered when speaking of personalized medicine and learning curricula.

AIM

To determine sets of intellectual, personal, social, and emotional abilities that comprise core qualifications in medicine for performing well in anamnesis-taking, in order to identify training needs.

METHODS

An analysis of training clinicians’ conceptions with respect to optimal medical history taking was performed. The chosen study design also aimed to assess gender effects. Structured interviews with supervising clinicians were carried out in a descriptive study at the Medical University of Vienna. Results were analyzed by conducting a qualitative computer-assisted content analysis of the interviews. Inductive category formation was applied. The main questions posed to the supervisors dealt with (1) Observed competencies of students in medical history taking; and (2) The supervisor’s own conceptions of "ideal medical history taking".

RESULTS

A total of 33 training clinicians (n = 33), engaged in supervising medical students according to the MedUni Vienna’s curriculum standards, agreed to be enrolled in the study and met inclusion criteria. The qualitative content analysis revealed the following themes relevant to taking an anamnesis: (1) Knowledge; (2) Soft skills (relationship-building abilities, trust, and attitude); (3) Methodical skills (structuring, precision, and completeness of information gathering); and (4) Environmental/contextual factors (language barrier, time pressure, interruptions). Overall, health care professionals consider empathy and attitude as critical features concerning the quality of medical history taking. When looking at physicians’ theoretical conceptions, more general practitioners and psychiatrists mentioned attitude and empathy in the context of "ideal medical history taking", with a higher percentage of females. With respect to observations of students’ history taking, a positive impact from attitude and empathy was mainly described by male health care professionals, whereas no predominance of specialty was found. Representatives of general medicine and internal medicine, when observing medical students, more often emphasized a negative impact on history taking when students lacked attitude or showed non-empathetic behavior; no gender-specific difference was detected for this finding.

CONCLUSION

The analysis reveals that for clinicians engaged in medical student education, only a combination of skills, including adequate knowledge and methodical implementations, is supposed to guarantee acceptable performance. This study’s findings support the importance of concepts like relationship building, attitude, and empathy. However, there may be contextual factors in play as well, and transference of theoretical concepts into the clinical setting might prove challenging.

Sensory Processing, Perceived Stress and Burnout Symptoms in a Working Population during the COVID-19 Crisis

Although previous research suggests an association between sensory processing and perceived stress in a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, it remains unclear whether this phenomenon occurs independently from psychopathology. The present study investigated the association between sensory processing patterns, perceived stress and occupational burnout as a stress-related condition in a working population. We focused on different aspects of sensory processing and used the momentum of a particularly stressful period: during the first months of the global COVID-19 crisis. A total of 116 workers at a mental healthcare institution in The Netherlands completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT). Our results demonstrated that higher scores on sensory sensitivity and low registration were associated with higher scores on perceived stress and core burnout symptoms. Sensory hypersensitivity was also associated with more secondary burnout symptoms. Associations were not driven by underlying sensory-related disorders (e.g., ASD or ADHD). In conclusion, sensory processing difficulties are relevant predictors of stress and occupational burnout, also in healthy employees. This phenomenon warrants further attention, as relatively simple adjustments in working environment may possess important preventive effects.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale to the Adult Spanish Population (HSPS-S)

Purpose

This article describes a cross-cultural adaptation of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) to the adult Spanish population, and psychometric analysis of its validation and reliability.

Methods

Convenience sampling by participant accessibility was used. The original version was adapted culturally and linguistically using the back-translation method, and a pilot study was done with 88 participants. Data processing and analysis was performed with the SPSS v.25 and LISREL v.9.2 statistical packages. The psychometric properties were studied in a sample of 8358 participants using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, and examining factorial invariance and internal consistency.

Results

The results confirmed a Spanish version with 27 items in five-dimensions: sensitivity to overstimulation (SOS), aesthetic sensitivity (AES), low sensory threshold (LST), fine psychophysiological discrimination (FPD) and harm avoidance (HA). Invariance across gender of this factor structure was demonstrated and reliability indices were good.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that the HSPS is an appropriate tool for evaluating high sensitivity in the adult Spanish population.

CORONAcrisis-An Observational Study on the Experience of Healthcare Professionals in a University Hospital during a Pandemic Emergency

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to affect millions worldwide and has posed unique challenges to healthcare professionals. Caring for patients during a pandemic may have negative impacts on their mental health. We describe the first part of a study using a mixed-method sequential explanatory design (QUANT→QUAL). This quantitative part examines the experiences of healthcare professionals during the pandemic in a University Hospital in Italy. We performed a cross-sectional hospital-based survey involving all healthcare professionals between 19 May 2020 and 3 June 2020. Perceived Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, and General Anxiety Disorder scores were calculated, in order to assess how the pandemic emergency changed the occupational and social habits of the healthcare professionals. The mean age of the 275 respondents was 47 years and females accounted for 80.2%. A total of 29.8% had a Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score ≥25, 22.9% scored ≥15 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale, and 17.1% scored ≥15 on the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) scale. Stress symptoms were mostly manifested for interviewees over 55, females, those who live far from their family, those who have only one child, and those who had a qualification lower than high school or who had a medical specialization. Our findings show a relevant level of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression in up to 30% of the sample, highlighting a significant psychological burden in all professionals.