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Title: Health Care Expenditures Attributable to Primary Care Physician Overall and Burnout-Related Turnover: A Cross-sectional Analysis
Award ID(s):
2041339
NSF-PAR ID:
10347311
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Volume:
97
Issue:
4
ISSN:
0025-6196
Page Range / eLocation ID:
693 to 702
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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  1. Abstract Background The prevalence of burnout and distress among palliative care professionals has received much attention since research suggests it negatively impacts the quality of care. Although limited, research suggests low levels of burnout or distress among healthcare chaplains; however, there has been no research among chaplains working in specific clinical contexts, including palliative care. Objective This study explored the distress, self-care, and debriefing practices of chaplains working in palliative care. Method Exploratory, cross-sectional survey of professional chaplains. Electronic surveys were sent to members of four professional chaplaincy organizations between February and April 2015. Primary measures of interest included Professional Distress, Distress from Theodicy, Informal Self-care, Formal Self-care, and debriefing practices. Result More than 60% of chaplains working in palliative care reported feeling worn out in the past 3 months because of their work as a helper; at least 33% practice Informal Self-care weekly. Bivariate analysis suggested significant associations between Informal Self-care and both Professional Distress and Distress from Theodicy. Multivariate analysis also identified that distress decreased as Informal and Formal Self-care increased. Significance of results Chaplains working in palliative care appear moderately distressed, possibly more so than chaplains working in other clinical areas. These chaplains also use debriefing, with non-chaplain palliative colleagues, to process clinical experiences. Further research is needed about the role of religious or spiritual beliefs and practices in protecting against stress associated with care for people at the end of life. 
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