The Protective Role of Self-Care in the Development of Compassion Fatigue among Health Care Professionals in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, 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 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 protective role of self-care in the development of compassion fatigue among health care professionals in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Eldoret, Kenya. The study was guided by Figley Model of Compassion Fatigue and adopted the Ex Post Facto research design. The target population was 76 doctors, 212 nurses and 33 counselors working in twelve units (grouped into more traumatizing and less traumatizing) offering specialized patient care services. A stratified simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 82 participants comprising of 19 Doctors, 54 Nurses and 9 Counselors. The independent variable was Years of Experience while Compassion Fatigue was the dependent variable. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, the ‘Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQoL) version V'. Data was analyzed using the Pearson correlation r at α = 0.05 level of significance and data presented in form of percentages, frequencies and means while graphic presentation was in form of tables. Since p< 0.005 in the Pearson correlation statistic table, the study hypothesis was rejected. The consequent implication was that the lesser the self-care activities engagement, the higher the level of compassion fatigue among the health care professionals. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that regular training on self-care that encompasses all the six subsets of self-care (Physical, Spiritual, Emotional, Psychological, and Workplace Balance) should be introduced in the work place as it will help in both preventing compassion fatigue and managing it whenever it occurs.