More than pain relief: Associations between provider compassion, anxiety, and burnout in ED oncology care.

Abstract

12078 Background: Compassionate care is a cornerstone of high-quality oncology practice, especially in high-stress environments like the emergency department (ED). However, the relationship between perceived provider compassion and patient outcomes such as pain, psychological distress, and provider wellbeing is not well understood. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of oncology patients presenting to the ED. Participants completed validated assessments including the Brief Pain Inventory, the Schwartz Center Compassionate Care Scale (SCCCS), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale, and the Self-Compassion Scale. Separately, ED providers were surveyed to assess their own burnout, rated on a 0–8 scale. Patients were grouped into High Compassion (SCCCS >100) and Low Compassion (≤100) categories based on their ratings of provider compassion. Group comparisons were performed using t-tests, and linear regressions explored associations between compassion scores and patient-reported and provider-reported outcomes. Results: Of 57 patients, 22 (39%) reported high provider compassion. Median final pain was lower in the High Compassion group (2.0 vs 4.0), though not statistically significant (p=0.18). Patients in the High Compassion group had significantly lower pain anxiety scores (29.2 vs 52.5, p=0.014) and were seen by providers with significantly lower burnout scores (3.1 vs 5.6, p=0.022). A trend toward lower pain catastrophizing was also observed (15.6 vs 25.7, p=0.069). No significant differences were found in pain reduction or self-compassion. Conclusions: In a cohort of ED oncology patients, higher perceived provider compassion was significantly associated with lower pain anxiety and with lower provider-reported burnout, but not with pain scores. These findings suggest that compassion may be more strongly linked to patients’ emotional experiences and the wellbeing of the providers delivering care. Integrating compassionate care practices into acute oncology settings may support both patient psychological health and provider sustainability. Key outcomes by compassion group (>100 vs. ≤100). Outcome High Compassion (Mean) Low Compassion (Mean) p-value Final Pain (0–10) 2.33 3.67 0.183 Pain Anxiety Total 29.2 52.5 0.014 Catastrophizing Total 15.6 25.7 0.069 Self-Compassion Total 23.7 23.7 0.996 Provider Burnout (0–8) 3.1 5.6 0.022