Linking PTSD with Empathy in Hospital Staff: A cross-sectional study focusing on Surgical Department in Iraqi Hospitals

There is a growing concern about the impact of occupational stressors on the well-being of healthcare professionals, especially in critical and challenging departments such as surgery. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress among surgeons and nurses in the surgical department in Iraqi hospitals. A sample of 336 surgeons and nurses from four general hospitals in Basra, Iraq, was selected through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed through multiple linear regression analysis. The study's results indicated medium levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. The findings showed that negative coping strategies such as substance use, denial, distraction, and disengagement in work reduce compassion satisfaction, whereas positive coping strategies increase compassion satisfaction. The study's findings provide valuable insights into the risk factors. The study's findings indicate the high prevalence of compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress among surgeons and nurses in Iraqi hospitals. The hospital's senior management and healthcare departments must implement positive interventions and coping strategies to support and increase the occupational quality of life in the surgical department in Iraqi hospitals.