• Mervyn Y H Koh, Allyn Y M Hum, Hwee Sing Khoo, Ho Andy H Y AHY School of Social Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore., Poh Heng Chong, Wah Ying Ong, Joseph Ong, Neo Patricia S H PSH Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre, Singapore., and Woon Chai Yong.
• Department of Palliative Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address: mervyn_koh@ttsh.com.sg.
• J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020 Jan 1; 59 (1): 105-115.

ContextBurnout is common among palliative care clinicians (PCCs). Resilience helps to reduce burnout, compassion fatigue, and is associated with longevity in palliative care.ObjectivesWe aimed to study PCCs who have remained in the field for longer than 10 years to deepen our understanding on their views on burnout and resilience.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study using semistructured interviews and purposive sampling on 18 PCCs - five doctors, 10 nurses, and three social workers who worked in various palliative care settings (hospital palliative care team, home hospice, and inpatient hospice). The mean age of the interviewees was 52 years, and the mean number of years practicing palliative care was 15.7 years (range 10-25). The interviews were recorded verbatim, transcribed, and analyzed using a grounded theory approach.ResultsFour major themes emerged from our analysis - struggling, changing mindset, adapting, and resilience. Intervening conditions, such as self-awareness, reflection, and evolution, were also important factors. The core phenomenon of our study was that of transformational growth - a process that PCCs have to go through before they achieve resilience. We also further classified resilience into both personal and collective resilience.ConclusionOur findings highlight the evolving process of transformational growth that PCCs must repeatedly undergo as they strive toward sustained resilience and longevity. It also stresses the importance of taking individual and collective responsibility toward building a culture of personal and team resilience.Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

26 keywords...

hide…