Compassion fatigue and coping strategies among healthcare providers in Central Uganda: a facility-based cross-sectional study
Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between coping strategies and compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals in Central Uganda.Design A facility-based cross-sectional study conducted between June and July 2023. Three tools were used for data collection: a socio-demogr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e102203.full |
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| author | Amir Kabunga Marvin Musinguzi Eustes Kigongo Raymond Tumwesigye Anna Grace Auma Samson Udho Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho |
| author_facet | Amir Kabunga Marvin Musinguzi Eustes Kigongo Raymond Tumwesigye Anna Grace Auma Samson Udho Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho |
| author_sort | Amir Kabunga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between coping strategies and compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals in Central Uganda.Design A facility-based cross-sectional study conducted between June and July 2023. Three tools were used for data collection: a socio-demographic survey, the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-5) and the Brief-Coping, Orientation to Problem Experienced tool. Participants were asked to recall experiences from the previous 30 days.Setting The study was conducted in five prominent hospitals in Central Uganda.Participants A total of 548 healthcare providers, including 191 physicians, 256 nurses and 103 technicians.Main outcome measures Compassion fatigue scores.Results Most participants were under 29 years old (50.9%) and women (62.0%). High levels of compassion fatigue were reported by 37.8% of participants. Active coping, self-distraction and denial were associated with higher compassion fatigue, while informational support, positive reframing and venting were linked to lower fatigue levels. Seeking social support effectively reduced compassion fatigue.Conclusion The findings highlight significant compassion fatigue among healthcare providers in Central Uganda, impacting their well-being and patient care. Coping strategies like active problem-solving and social support are promising in mitigating compassion fatigue. Interventions should focus on reducing self-distraction, enhancing problem-solving skills and fostering supportive work environments to improve healthcare workers’ well-being and patient care quality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f91e9527a0a64e4688eed0b83d370f2f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-f91e9527a0a64e4688eed0b83d370f2f2025-08-20T07:00:14ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-08-0115810.1136/bmjopen-2025-102203Compassion fatigue and coping strategies among healthcare providers in Central Uganda: a facility-based cross-sectional studyAmir Kabunga0Marvin Musinguzi1Eustes Kigongo2Raymond Tumwesigye3Anna Grace Auma4Samson Udho5Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho61 Department of Psychiatry, Lira University, Lira, Uganda3 Lira University, Lira, Uganda2 Public Health, Lira University, Lira, Uganda6 Department of Midwifery, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda5 Nursing and Midwifery, Lira University, Lira, Uganda4 Department of Midwifery, Lira University, Lira, Uganda3 Lira University, Lira, UgandaObjective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between coping strategies and compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals in Central Uganda.Design A facility-based cross-sectional study conducted between June and July 2023. Three tools were used for data collection: a socio-demographic survey, the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-5) and the Brief-Coping, Orientation to Problem Experienced tool. Participants were asked to recall experiences from the previous 30 days.Setting The study was conducted in five prominent hospitals in Central Uganda.Participants A total of 548 healthcare providers, including 191 physicians, 256 nurses and 103 technicians.Main outcome measures Compassion fatigue scores.Results Most participants were under 29 years old (50.9%) and women (62.0%). High levels of compassion fatigue were reported by 37.8% of participants. Active coping, self-distraction and denial were associated with higher compassion fatigue, while informational support, positive reframing and venting were linked to lower fatigue levels. Seeking social support effectively reduced compassion fatigue.Conclusion The findings highlight significant compassion fatigue among healthcare providers in Central Uganda, impacting their well-being and patient care. Coping strategies like active problem-solving and social support are promising in mitigating compassion fatigue. Interventions should focus on reducing self-distraction, enhancing problem-solving skills and fostering supportive work environments to improve healthcare workers’ well-being and patient care quality.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e102203.full |
| spellingShingle | Amir Kabunga Marvin Musinguzi Eustes Kigongo Raymond Tumwesigye Anna Grace Auma Samson Udho Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho Compassion fatigue and coping strategies among healthcare providers in Central Uganda: a facility-based cross-sectional study BMJ Open |
| title | Compassion fatigue and coping strategies among healthcare providers in Central Uganda: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Compassion fatigue and coping strategies among healthcare providers in Central Uganda: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Compassion fatigue and coping strategies among healthcare providers in Central Uganda: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compassion fatigue and coping strategies among healthcare providers in Central Uganda: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Compassion fatigue and coping strategies among healthcare providers in Central Uganda: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | compassion fatigue and coping strategies among healthcare providers in central uganda a facility based cross sectional study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e102203.full |
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