AB117. An exploration of Australasian genetic counsellors’ attitudes towards compassion fatigue, mindfulness and genetic counselling

Abstract: Genetic counselling is a caring profession. It has been known for some time that genetic counsellors are susceptible to clinical burnout and/or compassion fatigue. Recent studies have shown that mindfulness may help health care professionals with their experience of burnout. It is hypothesised that mindful awareness may be useful in ameliorating these symptoms of burnout in genetic counsellors. The present study aims to collect information about the experiences of Australasian genetic counsellors in relation to compassion fatigue and mindfulness. This study is an online questionnaire open to practicing Australasian genetic counsellors. The survey is in three parts. The first part collects demographic information about the genetic counsellor completing the questionnaire. The second part of the survey is the Professional Quality of Life Scale, Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Subscales-Revision IV. The final part of the questionnaire is the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Both scales are validated. Descriptive analyses will generate frequency data to elicit a description of participants and the responses obtained. Analysis of categorical measures will be undertaken using χ² (chi-squared) analysis to determine if there are any differences in responses. For continuous variables, differences in means between groups will be assessed using t-tests. Qualitative content analysis (inductive approach) will be utilised to analyse open ended responses. The results of this questionnaire will provide important data about clinical burnout and compassion fatigue among genetic counsellors and will enable recommendations about the use of mindfulness to minimise the impact of these on those in this profession.

Keywords: Genetic counsellors; clinical burnout; compassion fatigue