Who is at Risk for Compassion Fatigue? An Investigation of Genetic Counselor Demographics, Anxiety, Compassion Satisfaction, and Burnout

Abstract

Compassion fatigue is a state of detachment and isolation experienced when healthcare providers repeatedly engage with patients in distress. Compassion fatigue can hinder empathy and cause extreme tension. Prior research suggests 73.8 % of genetic counselors are at moderate to high risk for compassion fatigue and approximately 1 in 4 have considered leaving the field as a result Injeyan et al. (Journal of Genetic Counseling, 20, 526-540, 2011). Empirical data to establish a reliable profile of genetic counselors at risk for compassion fatigue are limited. Thus the purpose of this study was to establish a profile by assessing relationships between state and trait anxiety, burnout, compassion satisfaction, selected demographics and compassion fatigue risk in practicing genetic counselors. Practicing genetic counselors (n = 402) completed an anonymous, online survey containing demographic questions, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Professional Quality of Life scale. Multiple regression analysis yielded four significant predictors which increase compassion fatigue risk (accounting for 48 % of the variance): higher levels of trait anxiety, burnout, and compassion satisfaction, and ethnicity other than Caucasian. Additional findings, study limitations, practice implications, and research recommendations are provided.

Mindfulness Among Genetic Counselors Is Associated with Increased Empathy and Work Engagement and Decreased Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

“…Our study demonstrates that mindfulness among genetic counselors has beneficial associations with key professional outcomes, including burnout, compassion fatigue, work engagement, and empathy. Prior literature suggests that these variables have the potential to affect professional satisfaction, (Bernhardt et al 2009;Epstein 1999;Kearney et al 2009;Krasner et al 2009;Lee et al 2015;Shanafelt 2009;Van Bogaert et al 2013), retention (Coomber and Louise Barriball 2007;Okie 2008;Hayes et al 2006;Williams et al 2010;Van Bogaert et al 2013) and quality of patient care (Bernhardt et al 2009;Cohen-Katz et al 2005;Duchemin et al 2015;Grepmair et al 2007;Haas et al 2000;Hu et al 2012;Kearney et al 2009;Krasner et al 2009;Shanafelt et al 2002;Shapiro et al 2007) (Fig. 1).…”

“…Of note, two prior studies that used the ProQOL with genetic counselors modified five items to better reflect the nature of genetic counseling clinical experiences (Lee et al 2015;Udipi et al 2008). These authors noted no significant changes to the internal reliability of the measure; thus, these amendments were used in this study.…”

“…In multiple studies, genetic counselors have been found to be at risk for burnout (Bernhardt et al 2009) and compassion fatigue (Benoit et al 2007;Lee et al 2015;Injeyan et al 2011;Udipi et al 2008). Across a range of healthcare professions, these psychological sequelae have been found to negatively impact retention in the profession (Coomber and Louise Barriball 2007;Hayes et al 2006;Van Bogaert et al 2013) and quality of patient care (Bernhardt et al 2009;Cohen-Katz et al 2005;Duchemin et al 2015;Grepmair et al 2007;Haas et al 2000;Hu et al 2012;Kearney et al 2009;Krasner et al 2009;Shanafelt et al 2002;Shapiro et al 2007).…”

“…Distress can lead to a state of feeling overwhelmed by constantly experiencing patients' suffering, or compassion fatigue (Udipi et al 2008). Up to three-quarters of genetic counselors are found to be at moderate to high risk for compassion fatigue (Injeyan et al 2011;Lee et al 2015;Udipi et al 2008). Compassion fatigue can impede patient care, as counselors tend to disengage from their patients to protect their emotional state (Udipi et al 2008).…”

A study to explore if dentists' anxiety affects their clinical decision-making

“…40 If DACCS-R is viewed as a proxy for state anxiety, this finding confirms previous research in other professional environments, 41,42 that state anxiety is linked to burnout, though others have not found this link. 43 Further research into the links between state anxiety, the DACCS and burnout is needed. If one is suffering from EE and DP it is easy to understand how being cut off from and cynical about one's patients could impact on one's anxiety about decisions taken and that anxiety about decisions taken could lead to increased levels of EE and DP, thus forming a vicious circle.…”