Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Intelligence in Physicians Jennifer Peterson

ABSTRACT RELEVANT LITERATURE PROCEDURES LIMITATIONS Literature reveals that healthcare professionals, like 1. Figley’s (1995) theory of CF: This is a nonexperimental quantitative study. The literature review included different populations and physicians, experience compassion fatigue (CF) as Defined as, “the natural consequent behaviors and those findings may not be applicable to others. a result of exposure to patient trauma. Research also emotions resulting from knowing about a traumatizing Sampling Frame: Physicians licensed in MN working The results of this research will be specific only to the demonstrates that leaders, like physicians, with higher event experienced by a significant other – the stress at least 20 hours per week with more than 50% of their sampling frame of physician’s described. emotional intelligence (EI) are more effective. This resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized time being spent directly with patients. study proposes to identify if there is a correlation or suffering person” (p.7). Care must be taken if significant results are found Convenience Sample: Recruit through professional between CF and EI in physicians. • Measurement tool for CF - The Professional to not draw any cause and effect conclusions. associations and networks through mail and email. Quality of Life (ProQOL) Survey (Stamm, 2010). Convenience Sample: May introduce a self-selection Sample Size: 84 physicians, minimum. bias as participants will not have been chosen 2. Salovey and Mayer’s (1990) theory of EI: randomly from the full population. Defined as, “the ability to monitor one’s own and Collection: All data collected through SurveyMonkey Social Desirability Bias: Participants may respond in PROBLEM others’ emotions, to discriminate among them, and to and Multi-Health Systems, Inc. a manner that supports the way they think they should In health care, CF produces negative effects on use the information to guide one’s thinking and answer instead of how they truly feel. nurses, social workers, and psychologist, such as: actions” (p. 185).

• avoidance of patients and/or coworkers, • Measurement tool for EI - The Mayer-Salovey-

Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) DATA ANALYSIS • sleeplessness, CONCLUSIONS (Mayer, Salovey, & Caruso, 2002) using the total Six Subscales: • and/or ruminating on the traumatic experiences of score and four branch scores of perceive, use, • CF is the continuous dependent variable of the Potential Research Outcomes: • No significant results their patients (Figley, 1995; Pearlman & Saakvitne, understand, and manage. regression and will be measured by the secondary 1995; Rothschild, 2006; Stamm, 2010; Wilson & trauma score on the ProQOL. • Negative correlation between CF and EI in Lindy, 1994). In business, studies completed on leaders reflect that • Five measures of EI are the independent physicians. (EI scores are high then their CF scores the higher the EI scores, the more effective leaders continuous variables and will be represented by the may be low or EI low and CF high). There has been little research on the effects of CF on were at managing themselves and others (Bar-On, total score and four branch scores of the MSCEIT. • Positive correlation between CF and EI in physicians. Thus, do physicians experience CF? If Handley, & Fund, 2006; Goleman, Boyatzis, & McKee, Linear and Multiple Regression: physicians. (EI scores are high then their CF scores so, is there a relationship between their EI and CF? 2002; Mayer, Salovey, & Caruso, 2008). • Will be conducted to assess if the variables of EI may be high or EI low and CF low). Supporting this have been research on the (total score, and four branch scores) predict CF.

occupational hazards of negative emotional Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression: experiences (Kahn & Byosiere, 1992; Sauter & • If at least one predictor is not significant, then this SOCIAL CHANGE IMPLICATIONS Murphy, 1995). procedure will be conducted to find the most optimal This study will: PURPOSE Since physicians are both health care professionals model for the four EI branches predicting EI. and leaders, they would be a unique group to study. • Contribute to the growing knowledge base of CF The purpose of this study is to address the gap in and EI in relationship to physicians research of how CF and EI might be correlated as • Add empirical data to the research base that has it pertains to physicians with direct patient FINDINGS been constructed with different samples contact. RESEARCH QUESTION If a correlation is discovered, additional scientific • Provide a clearer understanding of how physicians • Research on CF has been dedicated to other Is there a relationship between CF and EI (the research would be needed to: respond to ongoing patient trauma and how their EI healthcare professions such as nursing, psychology, total score and four branch scores) in physicians? abilities may intercede. and social work. • Discover cause and effect. • Be useful in the research of more holistic • Physicians are considered to be at a higher risk for • Design and implement possible interventions for approaches to stress and self-care for physicians. job stress such as burnout or reduced job EI physicians. • Overall, such knowledge may lead to satisfaction. • Develop instructional programs to reduce CF and experiments to reduce and or prevent CF in • Research shows that leaders with higher EI are increase EI in physicians. physicians, improve the quality of care more effective and satisfied. CF provided, and help them to respond to others in an emotionally responsive and effective manner (Figley, 1995; Weng, Chen, Chen, & Yuan, 2007).