Magdalena Marilaf Caro1, Montserrat San-Martín2, Roberto Delgado-Bolton3, Luis Vivanco4. 1. Programa de Atención Domiciliaria, Alivio del Dolor y Cuidados Paliativos, CESFAM Nueva Imperial, Región de la Araucania, Chile. 2. Departamento de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Granada-Campus de Melilla, Melilla, España. 3. Comisión de Docencia del Sistema Riojano de Salud, Hospital San Pedro, Logroño, España; Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, España. 4. Centro Nacional de Documentación en Bioética, Fundación Rioja Salud, Logroño, España; Plataforma de Bioética y Educación Médica, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, España. Electronic address: lvivanco@riojasalud.es.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Empathy has been described as an essential competence of healthcare professionals who are working in palliative care and homecare services. In these services, usually accompanied by a high risk of physical and emotional burnout, empathy can play an important role in the improvement of occupational wellbeing. The aim of this study was to confirm the role of empathy in the prevention of loneliness and burn out, and in the promotion of life satisfaction. METHODS: In 2016, an observational study was carried out in Chile with professional nurses who were working in palliative care and homecare services. Empathy with the patients, loneliness, life satisfaction, and burnout were measured using psychometric scales. Correlation analyses were applied to confirm relationships among the elements measured. RESULTS: In a sample of 64 participants, positive correlations were confirmed between empathy and life satisfaction (P = 0.40; p = 0.003), and between empathy and professional experience (P = 0.29; p = 0.04). On the other hand, inverse correlations were confirmed between empathy and burnout (P = -0.38; p = 0. 01), and between empathy and loneliness (P = -0.41; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the important role that empathy plays in the prevention of loneliness and burnout, and in the promotion of life satisfaction. Evidence found suggests that empathetic abilities can be improved by the professional experience.
INTRODUCTION: Empathy has been described as an essential competence of healthcare professionals who are working in palliative care and homecare services. In these services, usually accompanied by a high risk of physical and emotional burnout, empathy can play an important role in the improvement of occupational wellbeing. The aim of this study was to confirm the role of empathy in the prevention of loneliness and burn out, and in the promotion of life satisfaction. METHODS: In 2016, an observational study was carried out in Chile with professional nurses who were working in palliative care and homecare services. Empathy with the patients, loneliness, life satisfaction, and burnout were measured using psychometric scales. Correlation analyses were applied to confirm relationships among the elements measured. RESULTS: In a sample of 64 participants, positive correlations were confirmed between empathy and life satisfaction (P = 0.40; p = 0.003), and between empathy and professional experience (P = 0.29; p = 0.04). On the other hand, inverse correlations were confirmed between empathy and burnout (P = -0.38; p = 0. 01), and between empathy and loneliness (P = -0.41; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the important role that empathy plays in the prevention of loneliness and burnout, and in the promotion of life satisfaction. Evidence found suggests that empathetic abilities can be improved by the professional experience.
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