An exploration of the emotional impact of working in an adult hospice service for Irish healthcare professionals.

Abstract

Purpose: An ageing population and a global pandemic has placed greater demands on palliative care services. Numerous studies describe the patient experience in palliative care, however, few explore the healthcare professional's experience of caring in this setting. This study explored the emotional challenges faced by palliative care professionals working in adult hospice services in Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach: A narrative phenomenological approach was adopted, using interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyse results from five participants' semi-structured interviews.

Findings: The type of challenge experienced reflected the impact it had on the participant's emotional wellbeing. Challenges perceived as achievable contributed to high levels of emotional wellbeing. These challenges often offered the opportunity for skill development and elicited positive feelings. Challenges perceived as uncontrollable negatively impacted the professional's emotional wellbeing and increased their risk of burnout. Examples of this included the shift in service provision and professional expectations. The challenges palliative care professionals experience on a daily basis can negatively or positively impact their emotional wellbeing.

Conclusion: Overall, this study highlighted challenges and their impacts experienced by palliative care professionals, illustrating key areas for improvement to prioritise staff wellbeing.