Relación entre Fatiga por Compasión y los Síntomas de Depresión y Ansiedad en el Personal de Enfermería en Salas COVID del Hospital Escuela Año 2023

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between compassion fatigue syndrome and symptoms of depression and anxiety among nursing staff working in the COVID-19 ward at the Hospital Escuela during the year 2023. The research stems from growing evidence that nursing professionals, who are constantly exposed to human suffering and high-pressure conditions, are vulnerable to developing emotional distress that compromises their psychological well-being and job performance. The study followed a quantitative approach with a non-experimental, correlational design. The sample consisted of 77 nursing professionals who completed three validated instruments: the ProQOL-V scale, the PHQ-9 for depression, and the GAD-7 for anxiety. Results showed that compassion satisfaction had the highest mean score (M = 38.8), followed by burnout (M = 37.6), and compassion fatigue (M = 17.8) as the lowest. A statistically significant relationship was found between compassion fatigue and anxiety (R = 0.314, p = 0.005), while no significant association was observed between compassion fatigue and depression. Additionally, a strong correlation between anxiety and depression was identified (R = 0.707, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that emotional stress in critical hospital contexts tends to manifest more frequently as anxiety, emphasizing the need to implement institutional programs focused on emotional support and self-care for nursing staff.