Analysis of the association between levels of compassion fatigue and work engagement with COVID-19 in nursing professionals

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 28; no. 10; pp. 2867 - 2877
• Main Authors: Lourencao, Luciano Garcia, Penha, Jose Gustavo Monteiro, Neto, Francisco Rosemiro Guimaraes Ximenes, dos Santos, Betania Maria Pereira, Pantoja, Vencelau Jackson da Conceicao, Ribeiro, Josias Neves, da Cunha, Ludimila Magalhaes Rodrigues, do Nascimento, Vagner Ferreira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva - ABRASCO 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Epidemics; Nurse practitioners; Nursing; Secondary traumatic stress; Brasil
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-812320232810.09972023EN

This article examines the association between levels of compassion fatigue and work engagement with COVID-19 in nursing professionals. A longitudinal, before-and-after study was conducted with nursing professionals working in the frontline in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Our study applied the Brazilian versions of the Professional Quality of Life Scale and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. High levels of compassion satisfaction (>43.0), low levels of burnout (<23.0) and secondary traumatic stress (<23.0), as well as high levels of vigor (>4.0 and <4.99), absorption (>4.0 and <4.99), and overall score (>4.0 and <4.99) were observed. Moderate, negative, and significant correlations of burnout with vigor (r: -0.505; p-value: <0.001), in the pre-pandemic period; and with overall score, in the pre-pandemic (r: -0.543; p-value: <0.001) and pandemic periods (r: -0.458;p-value: <0.001), were also observed. No changes in levels of work engagement were found. Professionals with compassion fatigue showed decreased vigor, absorption, and overall score, rated as medium in the pandemic period ([less than or equal to]2.0 and [less than or equal to]3.99), and an increased dedication, which was low ([greater than or equal to]1.0 and [less than or equal to]1.99) in the pre-pandemic period. It was concluded that there is no harmful association between compassion fatigue and work engagement with COVID-19 in nursing professionals.