Professional quality of life among physicians of tertiary care hospitals: An Egyptian cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Professional quality of life greatly impacts well-being and performance of professionals working in the field of caring. The study aims at assessing the components of professional quality of life and their predictors. Design and methods: The cross-sectional study was per-formed on 167 physicians enrolled by using stratified random sampling from tertiary care hospitals, Ismailia, Egypt. It was conducted by a structured interview questionnaire which included Maslach Burnout Inventory to assess burnout syndrome, and Professional Quality of Life version 5 (Pro QOL-5) subscale to assess compassion fatigue and satisfaction. Results: Among participants, 78.9% had high burnout, 76% had moderate potential compassion satisfaction and 82% had moderate potential compassion fatigue. The correlation between scales of professional quality of life scores showed significant results (p<0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that marital status, frequency of dealing with critical patients, and compassion fatigue score (B=-6.959, B= 3.573, B= 1.115) were significant predictors of burnout score (p<0.05). Marital status (B= 2.280, p=0.024), and burnout score (B = 0.179, p=0.000) were significant positive predictors of compassion fatigue. While compassion satisfaction score was negative predictor (B=-2.804, p=0.006). The predictors of compassion satisfaction were the marital status (B = 5.039, p=0.000), and compassion fatigue score (B =-0.254, p=0.006). Conclusions: High prevalence rates of burnout, compassion fatigue and satisfaction indicating poor professional quality of life were detected among physicians in tertiary care hospitals. ooe.