Prevalence and predictors of compassion fatigue among Australian oncology nurses caring for adult cancer patients: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: Compassion fatigue can impact oncology nurse's personal and professional life, which may, in turn, affect the quality of patient care. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of compassion fatigue and identify risk and protective factors among Australian oncology nurses caring for adult cancer patients.

Methods: 170 Australian oncology nurses caring for adult cancer patients completed a cross-sectional online survey comprising demographic information, the Professional Quality of Life, the HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised and the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index. Scores for each subscale of the Professional Quality of Life and corresponding prevalence rates were identified. The association of demographic factors, personality domains, and work environments with the Professional Quality of Life subscales were analysed using multiple linear regression.

Results: The mean scores of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress were 40.02, 24.72 and 22.68, respectively. The composite score of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index subscales was positively associated with compassion satisfaction and negatively associated with burnout and secondary traumatic stress. The only personality domain statistically significant to all subscales of the Professional Quality of Life was extraversion.

Conclusion: Oncology nurse's practice environment and personality traits, particularly extraversion, have been identified as key protective factors against compassion fatigue.