Seeger Aline, Grylka-Baeschlin Susanne, Domínguez Hernández Jonathan
MSc in Midwifery Program, Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Health Professions, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Research Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Midwifery. 2025 Sep;148:104500. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2025.104500. Epub 2025 Jun 28.
Reports indicate that many midwives suffer from compassion fatigue (CF) as a result of exposure to heavy workloads, traumatic events, and other stressful situations.
Studies have shown that CF often drives midwives to leave the profession. It also negatively affects their ability to provide compassionate care.
The study aimed to determine the prevalence of CF among midwives in German-speaking Switzerland and to examine the associations between demographic and work-related factors with CF.
A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2022, using the validated "Professional Quality of Life" (ProQOL) questionnaire to assess compassion fatigue. Relevant demographic and professional characteristics were added to the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, bivariable analyses and the generalised additive model (GAM) were applied.
Of the 374 participating midwives, 31.8 % (n = 119) were affected by compassion fatigue. The GAM model indicated that frequent exposure to traumatic events had the strongest impact on compassion fatigue scores (estimate: 5.17). A smaller impact was observed for attending traumatic births occasionally (estimate: 4.16), followed by being rather/much dissatisfied with their job (estimate: 3.31) and experiencing psychological burden (estimate: 1.93). The weakest effect was found in midwives who were rather satisfied with their job (estimate: 1.49).
Factors associated with CF are multidimensional and multifactorial. Identifying potential solutions and preventive measures can be complex.
Further research is essential to support midwives affected by compassion fatigue and to develop effective preventive measures.
报告显示，许多助产士因工作量大、创伤性事件及其他压力情境而遭受同情疲劳（CF）。
研究表明，同情疲劳常促使助产士离开该职业。它还会对其提供富有同情心护理的能力产生负面影响。
本研究旨在确定瑞士德语区助产士中同情疲劳的患病率，并考察人口统计学因素和工作相关因素与同情疲劳之间的关联。
于2022年9月至12月进行了一项横断面研究，使用经过验证的“职业生活质量”（ProQOL）问卷来评估同情疲劳。问卷中增加了相关的人口统计学和专业特征。应用了描述性统计、双变量分析和广义相加模型（GAM）。
在374名参与研究的助产士中，31.8%（n = 119）受到同情疲劳的影响。GAM模型表明，频繁接触创伤性事件对同情疲劳得分的影响最大（估计值：5.17）。偶尔参与创伤性分娩的影响较小（估计值：4.16），其次是对工作相当/非常不满意（估计值：3.31）和经历心理负担（估计值：1.93）。对工作相当满意的助产士影响最弱（估计值：1.49）。
与同情疲劳相关的因素是多维度和多因素的。确定潜在的解决方案和预防措施可能很复杂。
进一步的研究对于支持受同情疲劳影响的助产士并制定有效的预防措施至关重要。
