FC26: Compassion fatigue in informal caregivers

Abstract

Objectives: More than 80% of all long-term care services globally are provided by informal caregivers. However, they are often overlooked, underrecognized and insufficiently supported. This study analyses how providing informal care affects mental health and how the negative effects may be prevented or mitigated.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among informal caregivers in Serbia. Compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction (CS) were measured with the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) version 5. Compassion fatigue is a concept from the formal care setting, a known work-related phenomenon linked to secondary trauma from prolonged work with suffering/ traumatized patients. ProQOL subscales demonstrated good reliability with a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.917 on the CS subscale, 0.891 on the burnout (BO) and 0.857 on the Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) subscale.
Results: A total of 187 informal caregivers participated, with an average age 56.95 ± 12.86 years. 74.9% of the participants were female; the majority married or partnered (62.6%). The median time spent in caregiving was 4 years, ranging from several months to 50 years. The majority of the sample had a moderate compassion satisfaction (72.2%) with moderate levels of compassion fatigue, represented by the BO (67.4%) and STS (64.2%) subscales. Very few participants scored high on CS (3.7%) and high on STS (5.3%). Sex based differences were found for CS and BO domains, with both CS and BO being higher among women (p = 0.002 and p = 0.026, respectively). BO was found to be higher among singles (p = 0.049). Differences were found regarding urban/rural community, with CS being higher among informal caregivers in urban community (p = 0.041) and STS being higher in rural community (p = 0.004). There was no correlation between age and years spent in caregiving and ProQoL domains.
Conclusions: Over the coming decades, in the absence of a proactive approach, the increasing needs for care will significantly increase the burden of informal caregivers and intensify its consequence on mental health, by pushing moderate levels of burnout and STS towards higher values.

Full text

2024 IPA International Congress
54
low self-esteem, involvement in toileting assistance, inadequate explanations from physicians, and a tendency to
reject public support. Additional themes included feelings of frustration and helplessness, lack of emotional
support from other family members, and increased caregiver burden due to high care demands. In contrast, low
EE caregivers (scores of 40 or below) highlighted themes including: respect for the care recipient, having multiple
confidants, mild BPSD in the patient, employment, cooperation from supporters, and a sense of gratitude for
caregiving. Further themes identified in this group were effective communication with healthcare professionals,
active engagement in caregiver support groups, higher levels of resilience and coping strategies, and a positive
outlook on the caregiving role as a meaningful and rewarding experience.
Conclusions: The study identified distinct factors associated with high and low EE among family caregivers of
dementia patients. Understanding these factors can help tailor interventions to support caregivers, improve their
emotional well-being, and enhance the quality of care for dementia patients.
FC26: Compassion fatigue in informal caregivers
Authors: Natasa Todorovic, Milutin Vracevic
Objectives: More than 80% of all long-term care services globally are provided by informal caregivers. However,
they are often overlooked, underrecognized and insufficiently supported. This study analyses how providing
informal care affects mental health and how the negative effects may be prevented or mitigated.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among informal caregivers in Serbia. Compassion fatigue and
compassion satisfaction (CS) were measured with the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) version 5.
Compassion fatigue is a concept from the formal care setting, a known work-related phenomenon linked to
secondary trauma from prolonged work with suffering/ traumatized patients. ProQOL subscales demonstrated
good reliability with a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.917 on the CS subscale, 0.891 on the burnout (BO) and
0.857 on the Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) subscale.
Results: A total of 187 informal caregivers participated, with an average age 56.95 ± 12.86 years. 74.9% of the
participants were female; the majority married or partnered (62.6%). The median time spent in caregiving was 4
years, ranging from several months to 50 years. The majority of the sample had a moderate compassion
satisfaction (72.2%) with moderate levels of compassion fatigue, represented by the BO (67.4%) and STS (64.2%)
subscales. Very few participants scored high on CS (3.7%) and high on STS (5.3%). Sex based differences were
found for CS and BO domains, with both CS and BO being higher among women (p = 0.002 and p = 0.026,
respectively). BO was found to be higher among singles (p = 0.049). Differences were found regarding urban/rural
community, with CS being higher among informal caregivers in urban community (p = 0.041) and STS being higher
in rural community (p = 0.004). There was no correlation between age and years spent in caregiving and ProQoL
domains.
Conclusions: Over the coming decades, in the absence of a proactive approach, the increasing needs for care will
significantly increase the burden of informal caregivers and intensify its consequence on mental health, by pushing
moderate levels of burnout and STS towards higher values.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610224001480
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