Factors associated with compassion fatigue among front line healthcare workers from low- and middle-income countries: a narrative review
Abstract
Compassion fatigue, also referred to as secondary traumatic stress or vicarious traumatisation, is characterised by a reduction in intrinsic empathy for others (patients), associated with mental and emotional exhaustion caused by ongoing exposure towards individuals suffering from emotional, physical, mental or spiritual trauma. This condition is often found in front-line healthcare workers such as nurses, doctors and allied health professionals, particularly those working under stressful conditions, with lower levels of support. This narrative review aimed to identify factors associated with compassion fatigue in low- and middle-income countries as defined by the World Bank.
The key findings illustrated that CF was associated with individual factors like feelings of fear, resilience and coping strategies, and systems level factors such as intense workload and difficult role demands.
This narrative review highlights the significant impact of compassion fatigue on frontline healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies to enhance individual resilience and organizational support, aiming to create a more sustainable and compassionate healthcare environment.
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