Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 30, 2025
Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction in pediatric subspecialists during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Samuel M Kase1, Jeanie L Gribben2, Katherine F Guttmann3
1Department of Pediatrics, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Insights
Pediatric subspecialists experienced significant burnout and compassion fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeling valued by institutions and receiving social support were key to improving compassion satisfaction and reducing burnout.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for healthcare professionals.
- Pediatric subspecialists faced unique stressors impacting their well-being.
- Understanding factors influencing compassion fatigue, burnout, and satisfaction is crucial for physician support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore factors contributing to compassion fatigue (CF), burnout (BO), and compassion satisfaction (CS) in pediatric subspecialists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To compare pre- and early-pandemic CF, BO, and CS scores.
- To identify institutional and personal factors influencing physician well-being.
Main Methods:
- Electronic distribution of the Compassion Fatigue and Satisfaction Self-Test (CFST) and a personal/professional characteristics questionnaire.
- Survey administered to a national cohort of pediatric subspecialists.
- Analysis of pre- and early-pandemic well-being scores.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in pre- and early-pandemic CF, BO, and CS scores were observed.
- Nearly 40% of respondents felt undervalued by their institutions.
- Higher CF and BO scores were associated with increased risk perception, lack of self-care, and emotional depletion.
- Higher CS scores were linked to institutional value recognition, workplace debriefs, and pet therapy.
Conclusions:
- The pandemic necessitates enhanced social/emotional support and recognition from institutions for physicians.
- Pre-pandemic interventions may be insufficient to address pandemic-related challenges.
- Institutional leadership must prioritize wellness programs and a culture of appreciation to mitigate burnout and foster satisfaction.
Background:
The aim of this study was to explore factors contributing to compassion fatigue (CF), burnout (BO), and compassion satisfaction (CS) during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic in pediatric subspecialists.
Methods:
The Compassion Fatigue and Satisfaction Self-Test (CFST) and a questionnaire of personal/professional characteristics were distributed electronically to pediatric subspecialists.
Results:
There were no significant differences in pre- and early-pandemic CF, BO, and CS scores. Nearly 40% of respondents felt their contributions to the pandemic were not valued by their institutions. Higher CF scores were significantly associated with: higher BO score; "I have put myself at increased risk through my work"; working in one's specialty >50% of time; distress about mental health and/or future uncertainty. Higher BO scores were significantly associated with: higher CF score; "Self-care is not a priority"; emotional depletion. Higher CS scores were significantly associated with: "My institution values my contribution to the COVID-19 crisis"; workplace debriefs; pet therapy.
Conclusions:
The pandemic has only increased the need for physicians to receive social/emotional support from their institution and to feel their workplace contributions are valued. Successful pre-pandemic workplace interventions may not adequately support physicians during the pandemic. Further study is needed to identify supports that best counter the pandemic's unprecedented challenges.
Impact:
The sentiment "My institution has valued my contribution to the Covid-19 crisis" was the only significant factor associated with lower BO scores and was also associated with higher CS scores in pediatric subspecialists. This study is the first comparison of pre- and early-pandemic CF, BO, and CS scores in a national cohort of pediatric subspecialists. When considering interventions to promote CS and mitigate CF and BO for pediatric subspecialists during and after the pandemic, institutional leadership must offer wellness programming focused on social/emotional supports and prioritize a culture that explicitly recognizes and values every physician's contributions.
More Related Videos
09:03Nasal Brushing Sampling and Processing Using Digital High Speed Ciliary Videomicroscopy – Adaptation for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published on: November 7, 2020
09:36Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device
Published on: September 24, 2020
Related Concept Videos
02:34Empathy
01:08Obedience
01:17Ethical Dilemmas I
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
01:20Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...