Advisor

David Cole

Course

Practice-Informed Research in Health Systems

Document Type

Capstone

Publication Date

Fall 12-1-2024

Purpose

This report examines the prevalence of burnout and compassion fatigue among social workers and case managers, focusing on the contributing factors and the effectiveness of existing interventions. The study aims to provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by these professionals and to offer recommendations for enhancing their well-being. Burnout and compassion fatigue are significant and increasingly relevant issues within high-stress professions, particularly in social work and case management. These conditions not only affect the mental health and job satisfaction of professionals, but they also have a profound impact on the quality of care provided to clients. Addressing these issues is essential to maintaining a healthy and effective workforce within social services. The data for this study was collected through a survey distributed to various organizations in Sacramento and Stockton via email requests. The responses were collected and analyzed using Qualtrics, an advanced online survey platform widely utilized in academic and professional settings. Qualtrics provides an intuitive interface and a comprehensive set of tools that allow organizations to efficiently create surveys, distribute them, and analyze the resulting data. This platform is commonly employed to gather valuable insights on various topics, including customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and market research. Using Qualtrics, the study aims to offer a deeper understanding of the factors influencing burnout and compassion fatigue, ultimately contributing to developing effective strategies to support social work professionals.

Methods

The survey revealed that 56% of participants reported experiencing symptoms of compassion fatigue, highlighting the prevalence of this issue among social workers and case managers. Additionally, 49% of respondents indicated good personal resilience, while another 49% experienced emotional numbness, suggesting a mixed ability to cope with the emotional demands of their work. Regarding self-care, 73% of participants identified taking vacations and breaks as the most effective activity for alleviating stress. Furthermore, 63% emphasized the importance of support networks in managing stress, underscoring the need for robust professional and personal support systems. However, 56% of respondents found current organizational interventions ineffective or only slightly practical, indicating a need for more effective strategies. Despite this, 54% felt comfortable discussing burnout with their supervisors, showing some openness in addressing mental health issues within their organizations.

Findings & Conclusions

The study emphasizes the need for more effective organizational support and interventions to address burnout and compassion fatigue. Key recommendations include increasing wages, reducing workloads, enhancing supervisor support, and implementing regular mental health self-care days and workshops. These measures are expected to improve job satisfaction and mental well-being among social workers and case managers. The study’s limitations include a small sample size and potential response bias. Additionally, the survey relied on self-reported data, which may not fully capture the complexities of burnout and compassion fatigue.

Recommendations

Further research is needed to explore the proposed interventions' long-term effectiveness and develop more targeted strategies for preventing burnout and compassion fatigue. Expanding the study to include a larger sample size and different areas could provide more comprehensive insights into these issues. This executive summary provides an overview of the report, highlighting the essential findings and recommendations. It emphasizes the importance of addressing burnout and compassion fatigue to ensure the well-being of social workers and case managers, enhancing the quality of care they provide.

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