ABSTRACTS
Wear and Tear: The Relationship of Time on Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Among Urban ParamedicsAuthor: Shannon Gollnick, DBA, NRP, FP-C | | Associate Authors:
Introduction The same profession that is designed to take care of people is hurting those that provide that care. Over the past several years, the profession has seen an influx in turnover because of compassion fatigue, burnout, and a subsequent reduction in quality of life. Understanding where these contributors impact the provider over their career lifespan can assist organizations in implementing effective interventions to reduce burnout and subsequent turnover. Objective To investigate potential relationships between years of service and professional quality of life amongst urban paramedics. Methods This IRB-approved quantitative correlation study was conducted using a de-identified online survey, posted among various EMS industry related groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. Respondents were allowed to disengage at any point. Incomplete surveys and respondents serving populations less than 100,000 were excluded. Data correlations were made between years of service and experienced levels of compassion fatigue and burnout using the Professional Quality of Life 5th edition (ProQOL-5). Multiple regression analyses were completed including Pearson’s (r) and Spearman’s Rho (ρ) to assess the various relationships among data points among the three measures within the ProQOL-5 and an overall score. Results A total of 109 participants responded to the survey; 58 met criteria for inclusion. In total, 47% (n = 51) were excluded due to serving populations < 100,000. Most respondents (n = 40, 69%) had at least 10 years of experience. The result of the correlation was examined against each ProQOL subscale and total score. The average compassion fatigue score was 36.13 ± 6.22 (rs = −0.22, p = .100). The average burnout score was 31.53 ± 6.61 (rs = −0.16, p = .252). The average score on the ProQOL was 102.48 ± 17.10 (rs = −0.13, p = .346). The study found no statistically significant correlation between years of service and burnout (rs = −0.16, p = .252), compassion fatigue (rs = −0.22, p = 100), or overall professional quality of life (rs = −0.13, p = .346). Conclusions This study found no correlation between years of service and perceived levels of compassion fatigue and burnout. However, the sample size was limited, and most respondents were experienced providers. This research adds to the body of knowledge to help understand the antecedents for these factors plaguing the healthcare industry and provide insight and direction for future research.
|
