Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3560-9646
Abstract
Background:
Empathy refers to the ability to understand and comprehend others' thoughts and emotions as if it's their own, evoked by witnessing and connecting to the other person’s emotional state. Compassion fatigue, a consequence of an empathetic reaction, is the mental and physical tiredness resulting from being a witness to the suffering of others. It can result in negative consequences ultimately affecting the quality of treatment. The purpose of the study was to compare the level of empathy and compassion fatigue among mental health, and non-mental health professionals.
Methods
A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted over one year using 88 participants, with 44 mental health and 44 non-mental health professionals, to compare the level of empathy and compassion fatigue among both groups, from various hospitals across Mangalore, Karnataka. Validated questionnaires were used for data collection. The levels of empathy were assessed using Jefferson’s Scale of Physician Empathy and compassion fatigue will be assessed using the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version Five.
Results
The scores on the Empathy Scale exhibited a significant contrast between mental health and non-mental health professionals, indicating that both mental health and non-mental health professionals display noticeably different levels of empathy, with mental health professionals demonstrating higher average levels. In terms of compassion fatigue, professionals in the non-mental health field, on average, encounter higher levels of compassion fatigue compared to their mental health counterparts.
Conclusion:
The present study emphasises the early identification of workers at risk for compassion fatigue and in promoting strategies and policies in the training curriculum or workplace to foster empathy, thereby reducing the risk of burnout and stress and promoting quality of life.
Publication Date
2024
Publisher
JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research
Conflict of Interest
No Conflict of Interest
Keywords
Empathy, Compassion Fatigue, Mental Health Professionals, Non- Mental Health Professionals
Word Count
3816
Recommended Citation
Fiza K T F, Kakunje A, Dinkar A.
Comparison of Empathy and Compassion Fatigue Among Mental Health and Non-Mental Health Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine.
2024;
7(2):
-.
doi:
https://doi.org/10.55691/2582-3868.1213
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
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