Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction Experiences of Midwives Working with Women Experiencing Perinatal Loss: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine in depth the experiences of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction of midwives working with women who have experienced perinatal loss. Methods: The qualitative study was conducted in the maternity unit of a state hospital in Istanbul between March 1 and June 1, 2023. Data saturation was reached with 21 midwives. The data were collected face-to-face through in-depth individual interviews using a semi-structured interview form and evaluated using a descriptive phenomenological analysis method. Results: In the study, 5 main themes and 13 sub-themes were identified. These themes are as follows: ‘What am I experiencing?’: Being affected, being sad, helplessness, anxiety, emotional exhaustion: compassion fatigue, ‘Acceptance and moving on’: Part of my job, normalization, ‘Compassionate care behaviors’: Empathy, sensitivity, taking more time to listen, ‘Sense of accomplishment: Compassion satisfaction’, and ‘Coping’: Sharing, psychological support, organizational support. Conclusion: In the study, it was determined that midwives face the risk of compassion fatigue due to the death cases they are constantly exposed to while working with women with perinatal loss. It is recommended that interventional studies should be carried out to prevent or reduce compassion fatigue and that midwives should be trained in coping and communication skills, especially when they start their new jobs.

Keywords

• Midwives
• Compassion Satisfaction
• Compassion Fatigue
• Perinatal Loss

Perinatal Kayıp Yaşayan Kadınlarla Çalışan Ebelerin Merhamet Yorgunluğu ve Merhamet Memnuniyeti Deneyimleri: Bir Kalitatif Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, perinatal kayıp yaşayan kadınlar ile çalışan ebelerin merhamet yorgunluğu ve merhamet memnuniyeti deneyimlerinin derinlemesine incelenmesidir. Yöntemler: Nitel dizayndaki araştırma, İstanbul’da bir devlet hastanesinin doğum ünitesinde 1 Mart-1 Haziran 2023 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmada 21 ebe ile veri doygunluğuna ulaşılmıştır. Veriler, yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu kullanılarak derinlemesine bireysel görüşmeler yoluyla yüz yüze toplanmıştır ve tanımlayıcı fenomenolojik analiz yöntemi kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Araştırmada, 5 adet ana tema ve 13 alt tema belirlenmiştir. Bu temalar; ‘Ne yaşıyorum?’: Etkilenme, üzüntü, çaresizlik, kaygı, duygu yorgunluğu: merhamet yorgunluğu; ‘Kabullenme ve yola devam etme’: İşimin bir parçası, normalleştirme; ‘Merhametli bakım davranışları’: Empati, hassasiyet, dinlemek için daha fazla zaman ayırma; ‘Başarma hissi: Merhamet memnuniyeti’; ‘Baş etme’: Paylaşmak, psikolojik destek, kurum desteği. Sonuç: Çalışmada, perinatal kayıp yaşayan kadınla çalışırken ebelerin sürekli maruz kaldıkları ölüm vakaları sebebiyle merhamet yorgunluğu riski ile karşı karşıya oldukları belirlenmiştir. Merhamet yorgunluğunu önleme ya da azaltma yönünde girişimsel çalışmaların yapılması ve ebelerin özellikle yeni işe başladıkları dönemlerde, baş etme ve iletişim becerileri eğitimlerinin yapılması önerilmektedir.

Keywords

• Ebeler
• Merhamet Memnuniyeti
• Merhamet Yorgunluğu
• Perinatal Kayıp

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