What are the impacts, influences and rates of Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue in rehabilitation healthcare workers in rural and remote locations.
Kelly McGrath1, Lynda R Matthews1, Rob Heard1, Nicola Hancock11The University of Sydney, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Abstract
Background
There is increasing need for rehabilitation healthcare in rural and remote areas. Rehabilitation healthcare is primarily focused on injury/illness and disability management. However, little is known about the impacts, influences and rates of Compassion Satisfaction (CS) and Compassion Fatigue (CF) on rehabilitation healthcare workers in rural and remote locations. This cohort are significantly under-researched and potentially vulnerable to burnout and CF. This world first study seeks to identify the impacts, influences and rates of CF and CS and to provide an indication of the scope of the problem. This will enable workplace interventions to be tailored to minimise the harm of working in this setting.
Method
This study uses a survey methodology to obtain information about the impacts, influences and rates of CS and CF. Quality of work life was measured using the Professional-Quality-of-Life 5 (ProQOL) scale, with demographic information also collected. Recruitment involved homogenous purposive sampling.
Results
We will report preliminary results to identify how findings will refine an evidence-based conceptual framework developed from the work from our scoping review that identified the impacts and influences of CS and CF in the rural and remote workforce. With evidence to inform policies and practices, employers will be better placed to consider the implications for current rural/remote models of care and work towards mitigating organizational factors identified as risks for the development of CF.
Discussion
Examination of larger scale survey data, will provide insight into the relative importance of factors suggested by our qualitative study and scoping review.
Biography
Kelly is a PhD candidate (Faculty of Medicine and Health) at the University of Sydney, with a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and a Master of Rehabilitation Counselling. Kelly’s PhD thesis is a world first study on compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue experienced by rural and remote rehabilitation healthcare workers. In addition to her extensive experience in the Australian Public Service as a rehabilitation and workers compensation subject matter expert, Kelly has worked as a rehabilitation counsellor in rural and remote locations throughout NSW. Experiencing the complexities of rural and remote practice first-hand is what inspired her PhD journey.