THE PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF COMPASSION FATIGUE AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WHO CARED FOR PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 IN SELECTED HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN DURBAN AND MTHATHA, SOUTH AFRICA
1
1Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
2
2Cancer & Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit (CIDERU), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
3
3Bill and Joyce Cummings Institute of Global Health, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Kigali, Rwanda., University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2586
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on healthcare professionals (HCPs) in South Africa, especially in COVID-19-designated wards, increasing the risk of compassion fatigue (CF). This study assessed the prevalence and associated risk factors of CF among HCPs caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in selected public healthcare facilities in Durban and Mthatha.
METHODS:
A total of 428 HCPs (nurses and medical doctors) from four public healthcare facilities in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mthatha, Eastern Cape) were randomly enrolled using an analytic cross-sectional study design. Data were collected from 29 April to 09 July 2025, using face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire. The Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 (ProQOL-V) was used to measure compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. Logistic regression was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS:
All participants reported CF, with 91.6% (n = 392) reporting low CF and 8.4% (n = 36) reporting average CF. Average CF varied significantly across the different healthcare facilities (p = 0.008), with the highest prevalence at Clairwood Hospital (18.9%) and the lowest at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (3.8%). Only years of experience was positively associated with CF (aOR=2.64, 95%CI:1.02-6.88, p = 0.013), while Health facility (aOR=0.29, 95%CI:0.11-0.77, p < 0.001) was inversely associated with CF.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study shows that CF remains a public health concern among health professionals. Furthermore, the study has provided essential information about CF among health professionals, which can inform health policy. This can contribute to policy development and planning of prevention strategies incorporating CF prevention during pandemic in the future.
The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on healthcare professionals (HCPs) in South Africa, especially in COVID-19-designated wards, increasing the risk of compassion fatigue (CF). This study assessed the prevalence and associated risk factors of CF among HCPs caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in selected public healthcare facilities in Durban and Mthatha.
METHODS:
A total of 428 HCPs (nurses and medical doctors) from four public healthcare facilities in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mthatha, Eastern Cape) were randomly enrolled using an analytic cross-sectional study design. Data were collected from 29 April to 09 July 2025, using face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire. The Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 (ProQOL-V) was used to measure compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. Logistic regression was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS:
All participants reported CF, with 91.6% (n = 392) reporting low CF and 8.4% (n = 36) reporting average CF. Average CF varied significantly across the different healthcare facilities (p = 0.008), with the highest prevalence at Clairwood Hospital (18.9%) and the lowest at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (3.8%). Only years of experience was positively associated with CF (aOR=2.64, 95%CI:1.02-6.88, p = 0.013), while Health facility (aOR=0.29, 95%CI:0.11-0.77, p < 0.001) was inversely associated with CF.
CONCLUSIONS:
The study shows that CF remains a public health concern among health professionals. Furthermore, the study has provided essential information about CF among health professionals, which can inform health policy. This can contribute to policy development and planning of prevention strategies incorporating CF prevention during pandemic in the future.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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