Keywords: Family medicine, compassion fatigue, quality of working life

Background:

Family physicians provide comprehensive, patient-centered care that demands significant emotional and physical investment. To sustain their professional commitment, supportive working conditions are essential. In the absence of such support, compassion fatigue may develop, leading to reduced motivation and performance. This study aimed to investigate the association between compassion fatigue and quality of working life among family physicians in Istanbul.

Research questions:

Is there any relationship between compassion fatigue and working conditions, quality of working life among family physicians?

Method:

This cross-sectional study included 355 family physicians practicing in Istanbul. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Compassion Fatigue Short Scale (CFS), and the Quality of Life Scale for Employees (QOLS). Statistical analyses were conducted, with significance set at p<0.05.

Results:

The mean age of participants was 32.73±6.57 years; 57.75% were female, 22.6% were family medicine specialists, and 84.51% had 1–10 years of professional experience. In 69.01% of practices, the registered patient population ranged from 2,500 to 4,000. Physicians serving high numbers of elderly patients (>500), pregnant women (>50), and children (>600), and those reporting poor sleep, nutrition, and limited social engagement, exhibited significantly higher CFS scores (p<0.05). A moderate negative correlation was observed between CFS scores and QOLS Professional Satisfaction scores (r =-0.289, p<0.001). Conversely, CFS scores showed strong positive correlations with QOLS Burnout (r = 0.622, p<0.001) and Compassion Fatigue related to spousal interaction (r =0.618, p<0.001).

Conclusions:

High workload, patient complexity, and lifestyle-related stressors contribute to compassion fatigue among family physicians. Systematic assessment of work-related factors and their impact on physicians’ well-being is crucial for informing interventions aimed at reducing burnout and enhancing job satisfaction.

Points for discussion: