Interventions for Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Nurses: A Systematic Review and Network Meta‐Analysis
Huiling Zhang, Zheyuan Xia, Shuang Yu, Hui Shi, Yahui Meng, Wireen Leila Dator
Abstract
This study uses network meta-analysis to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different interventions (behavioral, psychological, and comprehensive) in alleviating compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, as well as in improving compassion satisfaction among nurses, aiming to provide evidence-based insights for enhancing nurses' mental health and care quality. Compassion fatigue in nurses negatively affects their mental health, patient care quality, and healthcare efficiency. Various interventions (psychological, behavioral, and integrated) target this issue, but evidence on their effectiveness is inconclusive. Network meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials on compassion fatigue interventions in nurses were reviewed, focusing on outcomes like compassion fatigue, satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. PRISMA guidelines were followed. Behavioral training significantly reduced compassion fatigue and improved compassion satisfaction. Comprehensive interventions were most effective in reducing burnout, while psychological interventions alleviated secondary trauma. Targeted, multifaceted interventions, especially behavioral and comprehensive strategies, effectively manage compassion fatigue, improving nurses' mental health, job satisfaction, and care quality.