Compassion Fatigue can be conceptualized as consisting of two components (Gentry, 2015): (1) burnout, and (2) secondary traumatic stress (STS), also referred to as vicarious trauma. The study includes a quantitative assessment through the administration of the Professional Quality of Life Scale (Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue, Version 5; Stamm, 2009) at two time points, baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1), to measure levels of Compassion Fatigue among healthcare professionals working within the Emergency Department, specifically in the Emergency Room and General Intensive Care Unit. In the interval between the two quantitative assessments, following T0 and preceding T1, a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach will be conducted. The study will also explore potential protective and risk factors related to Compassion Fatigue specific to the Emergency Room and General Intensive Care Unit settings. The Participatory Action Research will be carried out using focus group methodology. The primary objective of the study is to assess Compassion Fatigue (Larsen \& Stamm, 2008) among healthcare professionals working in the Emergency Department, specifically in the Emergency Room and General Intensive Care Unit of the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia, before (T0) and after (T1) the implementation of the Participatory Action Research conducted through focus groups. The second assessment (T1) will be carried out 18 months after the baseline assessment (T0)
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
159
The focus groups were organized into five modules: (1) compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress; (2) coping strategies (problem-focused and emotion-focused coping); (3) work motivation and work-related stress; (4) work-life balance; and (5) advice and work organization
Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo
Pavia, Lombardy, Italy
The primary endpoint will be the change in the Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue, Version 5 (Stamm, 2009) score measured before (T0) and after (T1) the focus group sessions.
The primary objective will be measured using the following psychological instrument: the Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue, Version 5 (ProQOL; Stamm, 2009), a self-report questionnaire consisting of 20 items designed to assess Compassion Fatigue in caregiving activities. The primary endpoint will be the difference between the Professional Quality of Life scores measured at the 18-month follow-up (T1) after the Participatory Action Research (focus groups) and the baseline assessment (T0), both overall and stratified by clinical department.
Time frame: from enrollment to the end of treatment at 18 months
Change in score on the professional burnout subscale
The Student's t-test (or its non-parametric equivalent, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test) will be used for paired data to compare the score on the professional burnout scale recorded at T1 with that recorded at T0. The analyses will be repeated for each UOC.
Time frame: from the enrollment to the end of treatment at 18 months
Change in the Secondary Traumatic Stress sub scale score
Change in the Secondary Traumatic Stress sub scale score: The higher the score, the higher the level of secondary traumatization.
Time frame: from the enrollment to the end of treatment at 18 months
Association between participants' characteristics and level of participation with changes in scale scores
Association between participants' characteristics and level of participation with changes in scale scores
Time frame: From the enrollment to the end of treatment at 18 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.