The Relationship between Professional Quality of Life and Caring Behavior among Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units

The professional quality of life (ProQOL) is considered an influential and determining factor in mental health, job performance, and family performance of people. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between ProQOL and caring behavior in nurses working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

This correlational study was conducted on 130 nurses working in the ICUs in Nasiriyah, Iraq. Sampling was done using the census sampling method. Data was collected using Stom's Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire and Nurses' Caring Behavior Scale. The results were analyzed using SPSS software version 27 and Pearson's correlation coefficient.

The mean score of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma stress was 33.38±10.24, 27.43±5.13, and 26.10±6.60, respectively. The mean of caring behaviors score was 19.15±7.83. A direct and significant relationship was observed between compassion satisfaction and caring behaviors (p<0.001, r=0.638). Also, an inverse and significant relationship was observed between compassion fatigue and caring behaviors (p<0.001, r=-0.382).

Based on the results of this study, there is a direct and significant relationship between compassion satisfaction and caring behaviors and an inverse relationship between compassion fatigue and caring behaviors. As a result, it seems necessary to plan to improve ProQOL and the caring behaviors of nurses in ICUs.