High prevalence of compassion fatigue reported by Chilean small animal veterinarians during 2022

This study assessed the prevalence of compassion fatigue in Chilean small animal veterinarians and its relationship with years of practice, euthanasia frequency, and personality profiles.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted during October and December 2022 using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale and the Dominance, Influence, Stability, and Conscientiousness personality test. Questionnaires were distributed to registered veterinarians (n = 20,000) via email and social media, with inclusion criteria of ≥ 25 h/wk in a small animal practice. Statistical analyses included χ2 test, ANOVA, t tests, z tests, and Pearson correlations.

A total of 197 veterinarians responded. All showed medium, high, or severe compassion fatigue. Of these, 179 (90.1%) had moderate-to-severe fatigue, with mean ± SD Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale scores of 62.9 ± 8.7 for severe (n = 141), 45.8 ± 1.3 for high (19), and 41.3 ± 1.5 for moderate (19). No significant differences were observed by gender. The most common Dominance, Influence, Stability, and Conscientiousness profile was perfectionist (n = 80 [40.6%]), which showed weak or no correlation with fatigue (r = -0.14 to 0.11). Years of practice and euthanasia frequency were also unrelated to fatigue severity.

Compassion fatigue is highly prevalent among Chilean small animal veterinarians, independent of gender, personality profile, or clinical experience.

The findings highlight the urgent need for proactive interventions to preserve veterinary well-being. Strategies include resilience and business training during veterinary education, emotional competency development, and workplace policies promoting mental health and work-life balance, all essential for ensuring sustainable and healthy veterinary practice.