Mindful Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Resilience Among Palliative Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Context. Given the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of palliative care providers, there is a growing need to better understand protective variables, such as self-care, mindfulness and self-compassion, as they relate to resilience. Objective. To investigate mindful self-care, self-compassion, and resilience as reported by palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. Descriptive, cross-sectional survey. An electronic questionnaire captured data from validated instruments measuring each study variable, as well as participant demographics and perceived impacts of COVID-19 on professional quality of life. Results. Positive, statistically significant correlations were found between mindful self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. These variables were also associated with greater satisfaction with professional life and perceived lessened impairment in physical and/or mental health due to a decrease in self-care activities stemming from altered routines during COVID-19. Those with higher resilience had worked in palliative care longer and also reported higher levels of self-compassion and mindful self-care, explaining 50% of variance. Self-compassion, satisfaction with professional life, and changes in self-care routine due to professional activities in the pandemic explained 44.3% of variance in mindful self-care. Self-compassion, female gender, and working as a frontline responder to the COVID-19 pandemic accounted for 35% variance in resilience levels. Conclusions. Results from this study extend the currently limited knowledge of self-care, mindfulness and self-compassion, as protective variables related to resilience in palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further longitudinal studies into causal effects on health and wellbeing over time are needed. (C) 2022 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates mindful self-care, self-compassion, and resilience among palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results demonstrate positive correlations between mindful self-care, self-compassion, and resilience, as well as their associations with higher satisfaction with professional life and reduced impairment in physical and mental health.