Self-Care, Burnout, and Compassion Fatigue in Oncology Professionals

CONTEXT: With the rising number of cancer cases in India, the stress levels of the treating team have increased. It has affected their self-care and made them susceptible to problems like burnout and compassion fatigue that adversely affect the quality of patient care. AIMS: The aim of the study was to assess and compare the levels of burnout, compassion fatigue, and self-care in three groups of oncology professionals (clinical oncologists, nurses, and psychologists). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study included 134 oncology professionals working in New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Sociodemographic data sheet, Professional Quality of Life Scale V and Self-Care Assessment Worksheet were used. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U test, and Correlation Analysis. RESULTS: The majority of the professionals reported moderate levels of burnout (60.4%) and compassion fatigue (56%). Oncology nurses reported an elevated risk as they scored significantly higher on these domains and had a lower degree of self-care. Interestingly, psychologists reported comparatively lower levels of burnout and compassion fatigue, despite the fact that they interact with the patients at a deeper level, looking after their psychological and emotional needs. Young age and a poor degree of self-care were identified as major risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The moderate levels of burnout and compassion fatigue, though not severe, are a cause of concern and cannot be overlooked. The study highlights the need for self-care in this regard and suggests that individual and institutional level interventions, particularly for nurses and young professionals, would prove useful.