Work-related quality of life in professionals involved in pediatric palliative care: a repeated cross-sectional comparative effectiveness study.

Gerber, Anne-Kathrin; Feuz, Ursula; Zimmermann, Karin; Mitterer, Stefan; Simon, Michael; von der Weid, Nicolas; Bergsträsser, Eva (2024). Work-related quality of life in professionals involved in pediatric palliative care: a repeated cross-sectional comparative effectiveness study. Palliative care and social practice, 18 Sage 10.1177/26323524241247857

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BACKGROUND

Working in pediatric palliative care (PPC) impacts healthcare and allied professionals' work-related quality of life (QoL). Professionals who lack specific PPC training but who regularly provide services to the affected children have articulated their need for support from specialized PPC (SPPC) teams.

OBJECTIVES

This study had two objectives: (1) to evaluate whether the availability of a SPPC team impacted the work-related QoL of professionals not specialized in PPC; and (2) to explore the work-related QoL of professionals working in PPC without specialized training.

DESIGN

Repeated cross-sectional comparative effectiveness design.

METHODS

One hospital with an established SPPC program and affiliated institutions provided the intervention group (IG). Three hospitals and affiliated institutions where generalist PPC was offered provided the comparison group (CG). Data were collected by paper-pencil questionnaire in 2021 and 2022. The Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL 5) questionnaire was used to assess work-related QoL, yielding separate scores for burnout (BO), secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion satisfaction (CS). A descriptive statistical analysis was performed and general estimation equations were modelled. To increase the comparability of the IG and CG, participants were matched by propensity scores.

RESULTS

The 301 participating non-PPC-specialized professionals had overall low to moderate levels of BO and STS and moderate to high levels of CS. However, none of these scores (BO: p = 0.36; STS: p = 0.20; CS: p = 0.65) correlated significantly with support from an SPPC team. Compared to nurses, physicians showed higher levels of BO (1.70; p = 0.02) and STS (2.69; p ⩽ 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although the study sample's overall work-related QoL was satisfactory, it showed a considerable proportion of moderate BO and STS, as well as moderate CS. To provide tailored support to professionals working in PPC, evidence regarding key SPPC support elements and their effectiveness is needed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov ID, NCT04236180.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine > Notfallzentrum für Kinder und Jugendliche
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

2632-3524

Publisher:

Sage

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

13 May 2024 16:08

Last Modified:

13 May 2024 20:00

Publisher DOI:

10.1177/26323524241247857

PubMed ID:

38737405

Uncontrolled Keywords:

compassion fatigue compassion satisfaction health personnel palliative care pediatrics quality of life

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/196733

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/196733

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