Frontline nurses' compassion fatigue and associated predictive factors during the second wave of COVID‐19 in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Abstract Aim This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated contextual factors of compassion fatigue in nurses in Kampala. Design This study employed a cross‐sectional study design. Methods Participants included 395 nurses. They provided details about their demographic information. Stamm's Professional Quality of Life V‐5 was used to assess the levels of compassion fatigue. Statistical analysis included Pearson's chi‐square and Fischer's exact test, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. A p‐value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Of the total 395 participants, 58.23% (N = 230) were female, 39.76% had a diploma, 47.09% were single, 43.54% had worked for 11–15 years, 54.94% had an exposure to COVID‐19 cases and 43.54% worked for more than 10 hr a day. 49.11% had high levels of compassion fatigue. The predictors of compassion fatigue were working experience (p‐value = <.001), exposure to COVID‐19 (p‐value = <.019), long working hours (p‐value = .003) and remuneration (p‐value = <.001).

Keywords

• compassion fatigue
• COVID‐19
• nurses
• remuneration