Analysis of the association between levels of compassion fatigue and work engagement with COVID-19 in nursing professionals

Abstract

This article examines the association between levels of compassion fatigue and work engagement with COVID-19 in nursing professionals. A longitudinal, before-and-after study was conducted with nursing professionals working in the frontline in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Our study applied the Brazilian versions of the Professional Quality of Life Scale and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. High levels of compassion satisfaction (≥43.0), low levels of burnout (<23.0) and secondary traumatic stress (<23.0), as well as high levels of vigor (≥4.0 and ≤4.99), absorption (≥4.0 and ≤4.99), and overall score (≥4.0 and ≤4.99) were observed. Moderate, negative, and significant correlations of burnout with vigor (r: -0.505; p-value: <0.001), in the pre-pandemic period; and with overall score, in the pre-pandemic (r: -0.543; p-value: <0.001) and pandemic periods (r: -0.458; p-value: <0.001), were also observed. No changes in levels of work engagement were found. Professionals with compassion fatigue showed decreased vigor, absorption, and overall score, rated as medium in the pandemic period (≥2.0 and ≤3.99), and an increased dedication, which was low (≥1.0 and ≤1.99) in the pre-pandemic period. It was concluded that there is no harmful association between compassion fatigue and work engagement with COVID-19 in nursing professionals.