Compassion fatigue and coping strategies among nurses working with traumatised patients

Abstract

English: The study investigated the influence of different coping strategies used by nurses working with traumatized patients to try and combat the compassion fatigue they might experience. The role of demographic variables such as age, number of years working experience, marital status and highest qualification were also investigated. A sample of 150 female nurses working in the four state hospitals in Bloemfontein participated in the study. Data was gathered by means of self-report questionnaires compiled by the researcher. The battery of questions included a few biographical questions, a test measuring compassion fatigue and another to identify the type of coping strategies the nurses use. Results showed a strong correlation between compassion fatigue and coping strategies. Nurses who experienced the least compassion fatigue are the ones who use problem focussed coping strategies especially restraint coping. The results showed no significant influence of the demographic variables mentioned above.

Afrikaans: Daar is in hierdie navorsingstudie ondersoek ingestel na die invloed van verskillende hanteringsvaardighede wat deur verpleegsters aangewend word ten einde deernisuitputting as gevolg van hul werk met getraumatiseerde pasiënte, teen te werk. Die rol van demografiese veranderlikes soos ouderdom, aantal jare werkservaring, huwelikstatus en hoogste kwalifikasie is ook ondersoek. ‘n Steekproef van 150 vroulike verpleegsters wat in die vier staatshospitale in Bloemfontein werk het aan die ondersoek deelgeneem. Die data is deur middel van selfrapporteringsvraelyste wat deur die navorser opgestel is ingesamel. Die toetsbattery het enkele biografiese vrae, en toetse wat onderskeidelik deernis-uitputting en die tipe hanteringsvaardighede wat verpleegsters gebruik, ingesluit. Die resultate dui op ‘n sterk verband tussen deernis-uitputting en hanteringsvaardighede. Die verpleegsters wat die minste deernis-uitputting ervaar het was diegene wat probleemgefokusde hanteringsvaardighede, veral selfbeheersing, toegepas het. Die resultate toon geen beduidende invloed van die bogenoemde demografiese veranderlikes nie.