ORIGINAL ARTICLE
A cross-sectional examination of factors associated
with compassion satisfaction and compassion
fatigue across healthcare workers in an
academic medical centre
Chizimuzo T. C. Okoli,
1
Sarret Seng,
1
Janet K. Otachi,
2
Jacob T. Higgins,
1
Jessica Lawrence,
3
Amanda Lykins
3
and Elizabeth Bryant
3
1
University of Kentucky College of Nursing,
2
University of Kentucky College of Social Work, and
3
UK Healthcare,
Lexington, Kentucky, USA
ABSTRACT: Compassion satisfaction (CS) among healthcare professionals is a sense of
gratification derived from caring for their suffering patients. In contrast, compassion fatigue, often
a consequence of burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS), is detrimental to healthcare
professionals’ productivity and patient care. While several studies have examined CS, BO, and
STS among healthcare professionals, the majority have assessed samples in specific disciplines.
However, the comparative differences in these factors by discipline or work setting are not well
known. The aims of this study were to examine the differences in CS, BO, and STS by discipline
and work setting, and to assess demographic, work-related, and behavioural factors associated
with these outcomes. An electronic survey was administered (N = 764) at a large academic
medical centre in the southeast United States. Questions elicited demographic variables, work-
related factors, behavioural/lifestyle factors, experience with workplace violence, and the
Professional Quality of Life Scale. Findings of the study determined that the rates of CS, BO, and
STS vary across healthcare disciplines and work settings. Demographic, work-related, behavioural,
and work setting (i.e., experience of workplace violence) factors were differentially associated with
experiences of CS, BO, and STS. The results of the study suggest two potential areas for research,
specifically workplace violence and sleep quality as a means of further understanding reduced CS
and increased BO and STS among healthcare workers. These findings have important implications
for future research and policy interventions to enhance healthcare workers’ health and safety.
KEY WORDS: compassion satisfaction, burnout, healthcare professionals.
Correspondence: Chizimuzo T. C. Okoli, Tobacco Treatment
Services and Evidence-Based Practice, Behavioral Health and
Wellness Environments for Living and Learning, University of
Kentucky College of Nursing, 517 College of Nursing Building,
Lexington, KY 40536-0232 USA. Email: ctokol1@uky.edu
Authorship statement: C. Okoli conceptualized the study,
analysed the data, and drafted the results and discussion sec-
tions. S. Seng and J. Otachi drafted the initial introduction and
methods sections. J. Higgins and E. Bryant assisted in data col-
lection, reviewed the manuscript, and provided important con-
tributions throughout. A. Lykins drafted the Abstract section,
reviewed the manuscript, and provided intellectual contribu-
tions. J. Lawrence assisted in data collection, drafting the
relevance to practise and implications section, and reviewed the
manuscript. All authors hold themselves jointly to the content
in the manuscript.
Declaration of conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts
of interest to declare.
Chizimuzo T. C. Okoli, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN.
Sarret Seng, BA, BSN, RN.
Janet K. Otachi, BSW, MA.
Jacob T. Higgins, PhD, BSN, RN, CCRN-K.
Jessica Lawrence, MSN, RN.
Amanda Lykins, DNP, RN.
Elizabeth Bryant, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, NE-BC.
Accepted November 17 2019.
© 2019 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing (2019) , – doi: 10.1111/inm.12682