Professional Quality of Life and Caring Behaviours of Nurses in South India: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Nurses' professional quality of life ( ProQoL) is closely related to their caring behaviors, while caring behaviour impacts nurses' performance and well-being. This study was aimed to identify the factors associated with compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and caring behaviors of nurses. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 110 nurses working in a private hospital, South India. The data were collected using three- part self-administered questionnaire, consisted of demographic data instrument, ProQoL scale measuring compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue and Caring Behaviour Inventory-24. The correlations, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the factors influencing the compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and caring behaviors of nurses. Results: ProQOL scores were high for compassion satisfaction (53.6%) and average for compassion fatigue (62.7%) and none of them had high level of compassion fatigue. A great majority of (93.6%) the nurses had high perception of caring behaviors. There was a significant positive relationship between the compassion satisfaction and the caring behaviors ( p < 0.001) ; negative relationship between compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction p < 0.001). The compassion fatigue (p < 0.05) and caring behaviors (p <.001) of nurses were significant predictors of nurses’ compassion satisfaction, whereas nurses being married , nurses having children and compassion satisfaction were significant factors contributing to nurses’ compassion fatigue. Also, the caring behaviors were influenced by their age and clinical experience. Conclusion: The compassion satisfaction of the nurses predicts the compassion fatigue and their caring behaviors.