悲憫疲憊之概念分析

Compassion Fatigue: A Concept Analysis

悲憫疲憊是近年來的新名詞，用來描述健康照護者在長期工作後逐漸累積壓力所導致的複雜情緒變化，未加以處理時會影響醫療品質。本文乃以Walker與Avant（2005）提出之概念分析步驟進行悲憫疲憊概念分析，分析結果得知悲憫疲憊的定義性特徵為：(一)累積病患與家屬的苦難經驗；(二)無法有效卸除病人苦難事件所累積的壓力；(三)對身、心、靈健康造成負面影響。其前因為(一)健康照護提供者；(二)長期付出同理心；(三)忽略累積的壓力與自身的情緒需求。而後果為(一)因應能力降低；(二)護病關係不佳；(三)增加醫療成本。期望此概念分析有助於護理人員對悲憫疲憊的了解及臨床實務與相關研究應用的參考。

Compassion fatigue is a relatively new term in nursing. This term describes mood swings experienced by healthcare providers that are both complex in origin and intensify over time due to cumulative stress. Quality of care can be affected if compassion fatigue goes untreated. This paper presents a concept analysis of compassion fatigue using Walker & Avant’s method. Results show the defining attributes of compassion fatigue to include: 1. accumulated patient and family suffering; 2. sufferer unable to release built-up stresses effectively; and 3. negative effects on physical, psychological, and spiritual health. Identified antecedents of compassion fatigue included: (1) working as a healthcare provider; (2) investing sympathy in others over a long period of time; and (3) ignoring stress symptoms and personal emotional needs over time. Identified consequences of compassion fatigue included: (1) decreased coping ability; (2) damage / destruction of patient relationship; and (3) increased medical care costs. This study conducted a concept analysis to offer a better understanding of the concept of compassion fatigue and provide a reference for nursing practice and compassion fatigue-related nursing research.