• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.145-155
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate oncology nurses' professional quality of life and its correlations with job satisfaction and job stress in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was utilized to investigate 210 oncology nurses from various oncology and hemato-oncology units. Professional quality of life (ProQOL), which is conceptualized with three sub-dimensions (compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress), job satisfaction, job stress, demographic and work-related variables were measured. Results: The participants were all women, with the mean age of 28.4. The participants with high ProQOL was only 14.8%, and 75.3% and 77.6% of the participants reported a moderate to high level of burnout and secondary traumatic stress respectively. Job satisfaction, age, and the total years of nursing practice have positive correlations with compassion satisfaction. Also, compassion satisfaction was significantly different according to age group, work units, the level of education, nursing positions, and the years of practice. Conclusion: Since the level of professional quality of life among oncology nurses was relatively low, the program for oncology nurses to improve compassion satisfaction and to decrease compassion fatigue needs to be developed.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.5-15
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• 2009

Purpose : This study was to examine the secondary traumatic stress(STS) and related factors of emergency medical technicians. Methods : This study was conducted among 190 emergency medical technicians, over the age of 25, with the 1st or 2nd grade qualification, who serve at fire stations in U and P city of Korea. The collected data for this study was analyzed using SPSS 12.0. Result : The average character type of A-type personality technicians was 43.25 points and the average of B-type personality technicians was 37.82 points. It suggested that the former was higher than the latter. State anxiety did not show statistically significant difference between A-Type group and B-Type group with the score of 48.51 for A-Type and 47.91 for B-Type. Physical symptoms showed statistically significant difference between the two groups with the higher score of 28.45 for A-type group than that of 28.13 for B-Type group. The level of STS related to the volunteers' job characteristics was found to be low when the volunteers were satisfied with their job and didn't want to transfer to another division. Those on duty who had slept more than seven hours that day had the highest points. The number of points was highest when the frequency for the onset of trauma was between 20~30 times. Furthermore it was found that for most technicians, 71.05%, the period of symptoms lasted for a few weeks at most, and this was where the STS was the lowest, whereas on the other hand the highest STS occurred when the symptoms lasted for a period of up to six months. The findings showed significant correlations with a relation of r=.24 between STS and level of anxiety and r=.45 between STS and physical symptoms. However, no significant correlation was found between the level of anxiety and physical symptoms. Conclusion : The more emergency medical technicians are exposed to accidents, the more serious the STS are. Those with an A-type personality are especially prone to have higher STS. The higher the STS level is, the higher the level of physical states and anxiety is.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.487-498
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of nursing workplace spirituality and resilience on the quality of professional life of hospital nurses. The study participants comprised 200 nurses working in two general hospitals with over 300 beds in. Data were collected from March 4 to 29, 2019 and a total sample size of 197 participants was used for analysis. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the results using SPSS/WIN 21.0. The score were as follows: 4.54 for nursing work spirituality, 3.34 resilience, 3.20 compassion satisfaction, 2.66 secondary traumatic stress, and 2.79 burnout. The factors affecting compassion satisfaction were nursing work spirituality and resilience, and the explanatory power was 47%. The factors affecting secondary traumatic stress were resilience, and the explanatory power was 13%. The factors affecting burnout were resilience, nursing workplace spirituality, and job satisfaction, and this had an explanatory power of 51%. In conclusion, it is necessary to improve the resilience of hospital nurses to alleviate secondary traumatic stress and burnout of nurses and to improve the quality of professional life.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.62-74
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of mental health problems in patients discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods : This was a secondary analysis study using data from a multicenter prospective cohort of post-ICU patients. We analyzed data of 311 patients enrolled in the primary cohort study who responded to the mental health questionnaire three months after the discharge. Anxiety and depression were measured on the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was measured on the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Results : The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in patients at three months after ICU discharge were 25.7%, 17.4%, and 18.0%, respectively, and 7.7% of them experienced all three problems. Unemployment (OR=1.99, p=.033) and unplanned ICU admission (OR=2.28, p=.017) were risk factors for depression, while women gender (OR=2.34, p=.009), comorbid diseases (OR=2.88, p=.004), non-surgical ICUs (trauma ICU: OR=7.31, p=.002, medical ICU: OR=3.72, p=.007, neurological ICU: OR=2.95, p=.019) and delirium (OR=2.89, p=.009) were risk factors for PTSD. Conclusion : ICU nurses should proactively monitor risk factors for post-ICU mental health problems. In particular, guidelines on the detection and management of delirium in critically ill patients should be observed.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.277-289
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• 2018

Background: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), the subject of this evaluative research document employs 1400 people. 80% of employees are operational firefighters and officers whom operate across a range of duty systems and support functions, providing prevention, protection and emergency response to the communities of Lancashire. Methods: The overarching purpose of this epidemiological study is to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst operational LFRS personnel and to analyse the effects upon those who may be suffering from it, whether brought about by a single traumatic event or by repeated exposure to traumatic occurrences over a period of time. A combination of primary and secondary research was carried out. Primary data was collated using two recognised clinical questionnaires and statistical analysis was conducted with the aid of the software package SPSS. Results: The findings and statistical analysis showed that out of the 100 people surveyed, 30% of respondents had signs of probable distress. Of this quota, 4% showed symptoms of PTSD. The study considers how an organisation can recognise and manage PTSD and provides recommendations to assist in better recognising and managing the associated risks. Conclusion: Based upon the findings, the authors conclude that the level of PTSD within LFRS is slightly lower than those found in other studies undertaken within the Fire and Rescue Service sector. The paper provides recommendations for future studies and a series of actions for consideration by LFRS senior management to improve PTSD support services for employees.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2010

Objectives : Indirect contact with trauma may occur when a person empathically listens to detailed descriptions, exposing the person to intense emotional pain from trauma victims. Although less severe than direct trauma, indirectly traumatized persons may experience the same fear, rage, and despair as direct trauma victims. This phenomenon has been variously termed vicarious trauma, traumatic countertransference, burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. Using a psychiatric symptoms questionnaires, this study investigated the effects of indirect exposure to co-worker's trauma on the mental health of firefighters who had not directly experienced traumatic events in the previous year. Methods : We administered self-report questionnaires, such as the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IESR) and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), to firefighters working at two fire stations in a metropolitan city. We analyzed 188 of 232 collected surveys, after excluding falsely entered data (28 cases) and questionnaires by directly-traumatized victims (16 cases). Results : Alcohol consumption and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as determined by the AUDIT and IES-R, were significantly higher in the indirectly-traumatized group. The ratio of high-risk members scoring higher than 23 in IES-R was larger in the indirectly traumatized group, although this was not statistically significant. Conclusion : Alcohol consumption was significantly higher in the indirectly traumatized group. This group also included more members at high risk for PTSD. Further research, with a larger group of indirectly traumatized firefighters and ongoing investigation of PTSD development and other psychiatric symptoms, is needed.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.214-227
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the socio-demographic factors, the disaster related factors, the physical health related factors and the psychological factors of older adults exposed to natural disaster and these factors may possibly cause the occurrence of PTSD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed using the secondary data from the 3rd Disaster Victims Panel Survey (2012-2017). The data from 1,397 disaster victims were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Results: Compared with the younger adult disaster victims, the elderly were more likely to have symptoms of PTSD (15.0% vs. 12.1%). Factors such as the number of years since being exposed to the disaster, anxiety, depression and social adjustment were significantly associated with occurrence of PTSD for both older and younger adults. Female gender was the additional risk factors for the older adults, while marital status, income, having witnessed another person's injury or death, and having lost a home were associated with the occurrence of PTSD. Conclusion: The elderly were more likely to develop PTSD as compared with younger adults. More targeted post-disaster mental health services to the elderly with the symptoms of depressive, anxiety and impaired social adjustments, should be provided to improve their mental health.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.362-371
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify Compassion Fatigue (CF), Somatization, and Silencing Response (SR) among nurses and understand intermediate effects between the variables. Methods: The sample of 240 nurses who were working three shifts in medical and surgical wards, and emergency room were recruited in three hospitals with over 700 beds. A structured questionnaire was used which included CF, Somatization and SR scales. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. Results: There were statistically significant differences in CF, Somatization and SR depending on perceived personal health condition, experience of turnover, co-worker support. There were significant correlations between those study variables. The result also indicated that burnout (${\beta}$=.81, p<.001) which is a part of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Somatization (${\beta}$=.79, p<.001) have the role of partial mediator in the relationship between Secondary Traumatic Stress and Silencing response. Conclusion: The results of study show that an intermediary role by Burnout and Somatization in Silencing response of nurses is important for effective human resource management in hospital nursing staffs. Effective human resource management which includes mentoring and social support system can enhance the professional quality of life of nurses, which will eventually contribute to the quality of care by those care providers and counselors.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.551-562
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• 2021

This study aimed to identify the effect of resilience and positive psychological capital on hospital nurses' professional quality of life. A cross-sectional survey design was utilized to investigate 221 general hospital nurses from June 1 to 30, 2021. Professional quality of life (ProQOL), which is conceptualized with three sub-dimensions (compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress), resilience, and positive psychological capital variables were measured. There was a positive relationship between compassion satisfaction and resilience, positive psychological capital, and a negative relationship among burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and the other variables in this study. The main factors influencing compassion satisfaction were resilience, and positive psychological capital, which explained about 47% of compassion satisfaction. Burnout was influenced by resilience, positive psychological capital, and work pattern, and these variables explained about 37% of burnout. Notably, it was found that resilience was the most crucial factor in nurses' compassion satisfaction, and positive psychological capital was the most crucial factor in nurses' burnout. Thus, it is suggested to develop and verify the effectiveness of a resilience improvement program and positive psychological intervention program to strengthen the internal resources of hospital nurses.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.597-609
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• 2023

Purpose: The degree of caring behavior of oncology nurses is a crucial factor in the care provided to patients with cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate factors related to oncology nurses' caring behavior, including their resilience and professional quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 107 oncology nurses at an urban tertiary hospital from May 18 to 24, 2015. We used a self-report questionnaire to measure resilience, professional quality of life, and degree of caring behavior. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlations, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 20.0. Results: Oncology nurses presented with low levels of resilience and caring behavior, and high levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. There was a statistically significant relationship between the degree of caring behavior, resilience (r = .43, p < .001), compassion satisfaction (r = .51, p < .001), and burnout (r = - .42, p < .001), as well as between secondary traumatic stress and burnout (r = .34, p < .001). Factors associated with oncology nurses' degree of caring behavior were compassion satisfaction (t = 6.00, p < .001) and educational level (t = 3.45, p = .001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that oncology nurses' degree of caring behavior is related to their professional quality of life and education. These findings suggest that enhancing oncology nurses' healthy coping strategies at both the individual and organizational levels can further develop holistic nursing care. Additionally, it is necessary to examine the factors affecting nurses' compassion satisfaction and to try to promote this aspect.