"Compassion fatigue in animal care workers": Correction.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Hill ◽  
Cathleen M. LaLonde ◽  
Laura A. Reese
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Animal Care

Compassion fatigue in animal care workers.

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Hill ◽  
Cathleen M. LaLonde ◽  
Laura A. Reese
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Animal Care

scholarly journals Exploring the loss and disenfranchised grief of animal care workers

Death Studies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Marton ◽  
Teresa Kilbane ◽  
Holly Nelson-Becker
Keyword(s):  
Disenfranchised Grief ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Animal Care

Compassion Fatigue in Laboratory Animal Personnel during the COVID‑19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E Thurston ◽  
Goldia Chan ◽  
Lisa A Burlingame ◽  
Jennifer A Jones ◽  
Patrick A Lester ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Laboratory Animal ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Animal Research ◽  
Institutional Changes ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Stress Isolation ◽  
Animal Community ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Animal Care

Compassion Fatigue (CF) is commonly observed in professions associated with human and animal care. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled laboratory animal research institutions to implement new work practices in order to maintain essential animal care operations. These modifications ranged from shift changes to last-resort measures, such as culling animal colonies, to accommodate reduced staffing. Such changes could cause personnel to experience increased stress, isolation, and helplessness—all of which can increase CF risk. In the current study, 200 persons involved with animal research completed an online survey to gauge whether CF among laboratory animal personnel had increased during the pandemic. The survey examined professional quality of life, self-assessed levels of CF, institutional changes, perceived changes in animal welfare, and institutional measures intended to alleviate CF. A total of 86% of participants had experienced CF at some point in their career, with 41% experiencing a CF event (new or worsening symptoms of CF) during the pandemic. In addition, 90% of participants who reported a CF event also reported subsequent effects on their personal or professional lives. Health, employment, and animal-related stress that arose due to the pandemic were all found to influence CF scores significantly. Although 96% of respondents were considered essential workers, 67% did not feel as valued for their work as other essential personnel. Furthermore, 88% of personnel responsible for the euthanasia of healthy animals who experienced a CF event reported that CF also affected their personal life, professional life, or both, and 78% responded that interventions from internal CF programs or leadership did not help to alleviate symptoms of CF. The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant institutional changes will likely have lasting effects on persons and organizations. By determining and subsequently mitigating sources of CF, we can better assist the laboratory animal community during future crises.

scholarly journals Work-related injuries to animal care workers, Washington 2007-2011

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Fowler ◽  
Darrin Adams ◽  
David Bonauto ◽  
Peter Rabinowitz
Keyword(s):  
Work Related ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Animal Care

Biomarkers of respiratory allergy in laboratory animal care workers: an observational study

2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 735-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Tafuro ◽  
Luisella Selis ◽  
Matteo Goldoni ◽  
Mariarita Stendardo ◽  
Paola Mozzoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Laboratory Animal ◽  
Respiratory Allergy ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Animal Care

“Compassion Fatigue” is a Misnomer: How Compassion Can Increase Quality of Life

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-252
Author(s):  
Jennifer DeDecker
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Job Performance ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Individual

Health-care workers are at risk of experiencing negative consequences for their own health and job performance due to a wide variety of stressors. Care providers suffer from varying expressions of a generalized symptom set that has been termed “burnout” or “compassion fatigue.” These terms can help us understand the phenomenon that is happening in our health system, but a strong understanding of the physical, mental, emotional, and psychological implications will increase the efficacy of treatment and benefit of preventive care. This article asserts that the term “compassion fatigue” is a misnomer, resulting in a misunderstanding of the causes and effects of compassion on the individual. This article challenges the term, positing that it has become outdated based on what we now know about the neuroscience of compassion, empathy, and mindfulness. Instead, this discussion offers the relevance of the term “empathic distress leading to empathic distress fatigue,” suggesting that contemplative practice, mindfulness, and compassion training can protect and empower health-care providers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document