Structural relationship between mindful self-care, meaning made, and palliative worker's quality of life.

Research is clear that palliative care workers (PCW) are at risk for burnout and secondary traumatic stress, it is unclear how to address these risks and support PCWs. A recent meta-analysis of interventions supporting PCWs reported that despite ample programs implemented for PCWs, most have failed to demonstrate desired outcomes or are based on nonrigorously tested research. This study seeks to evaluate factors that may contribute to professional quality of life (ProQoL) for PCWs. Specifically, it uses structural equation modeling to examine the relationship between ProQoL, mindful self-care (MSC), and meaning made in PCWs. A total of 141 multidisciplinary palliative and hospice care clinicians from a county-wide agency completed The Mindful Self-Care Scale–33, The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale, and The Professional Quality of Life Scale. MSC behaviors exhibited a direct effect on ProQoL for PCWs so that more engagement in MSC predicted higher ProQoL (β =.81, p <.001). MSC behaviors also demonstrated a direct relationship with meaning made for PCWs so that higher engagement in MSC predicted higher meaning made (β =.33, p <.01). Similarly, meaning made indicated a direct effect on ProQoL so that higher meaning made resulted in higher ProQoL (β =.25, p <.01). The current study suggests that ProQoL for PCWs may be directly affected by meaning made as well as the degree of engagement in MSC behaviors. Based on these findings, future programs aimed at supporting PCWs should consider adding MSC behaviors and meaning-making interventions as components.