Distress, demoralization, and fulfillment among palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objectives Prolonged distress is a risk factor for burnout among health-care providers (HCP) and may contribute to demoralization. We examined sources of distress during the COVID-19 pandemic and associations with demoralization. Methods This prospective cross-sectional survey of HCP was conducted among palliative care providers of an academic medical center. Participants completed a survey evaluating sources of distress and the Demoralization Scale-II (DS-II) to measure the intensity of demoralization. Results Of 106 eligible participants, 74 (70%) completed the survey. DS-II median (range) score was 2 (0–19). There were no statistically significant associations with demographic characteristics. Participants reported high rates of distress for multiple reasons and high rates of sense of fulfillment (90%) and satisfaction (89%) with their profession. Significance of results Our study identified high levels of distress but low demoralization rates. Further study to evaluate fulfillment and satisfaction as protective factors against demoralization and burnout is indicated.