What is the role of compassion in healthcare?听
Written by Michael Feder
Reviewed by听Mark J贸hannsson, DHSc, MPH,听Dean, College of Health Professions
Cognitive and behavioral concepts are important to consider when supporting population health and positive health outcomes. A听attitude, words and body language affect patient outcomes. Of course, these things won鈥檛 cure a disease on their own. On the other hand, would patients be more willing to keep up with a rigorous drug regimen if their prescribing physician were someone they trusted and liked?听
The concept of听compassion in healthcare听has spurred debate in the medical community. Ongoing conversations are illuminating the ways that compassion might have real medical value to patients and healthcare providers alike.听
What do we mean when we talk about compassionate healthcare?
Everyone who enters the medical system, whether they be a patient or provider, has their own expectations of behavior. Generally, most people might agree that their nurse or physician should be 鈥渃ompassionate鈥 or 鈥渟ympathetic,鈥 but definitions differ on exactly what those terms mean or how a healthcare provider should act.听
A survey of the literature reveals a number of definitions for 鈥渃ompassionate healthcare.鈥 According to an article in the听, compassion comprises three key qualities:
1. Empathy
Empathy, or the ability to听understand and share the feelings of others,听is the first step. Compassionate healthcare providers respond empathetically to patient suffering and feelings.听
2. Willingness to help
It鈥檚 not enough to empathize with a patient鈥檚 suffering or feelings. Compassion requires a desire to help, a desire that is听apparent and active. While empathy is an internal feeling, willingness can be observed externally in both听effect and action.听
Rational action
Healthcare providers who are empathetic with their patients and willing to help won鈥檛 do much good for anyone if they do not act rationally. Rather provider actions should be specific, ethical and 鈥渄irected at听finding a solution听to [patient] suffering鈥, according to听
Taken together, these three aspects make up a strong working definition of compassionate healthcare.听听
Why can it be tough to provide compassionate care?
If compassionate care is lacking, it鈥檚 not because healthcare providers are uncompassionate people. Here are a few reasons why healthcare providers may have difficulty giving compassionate care.听听
Burnout
Burnout in nurses听and physicians results from the听long hours and stress听they experience helping patients around the clock. Burnout can make a person more cynical and less excited about going to work. Whether it be in tone or body language, that cynicism can come across as callous and unempathetic.听
A focus on the facts
Medicine, like any science, depends on experimental design, data-driven conclusions and hard facts. Quantitative measurable data is used to solve听difficult medical problems.
There are research methods that allow scientists to capture the human part of the process. Of course, a provider鈥檚 education, skills, quantitative reasoning, experience and access to information must form the basis of their work. It鈥檚 important to听talk to patients as people and take time to ask questions and truly listen.听That distinction can mean the difference between care that is compassionate and care that isn鈥檛.听
Why is compassionate healthcare important?听
Considering where compassion should exist in healthcare has specific implications for physicians, nurses and patients.听Here are a few things to consider about compassionate healthcare:
Benefits of compassionate care听
When compassionate care is practiced, it can have many benefits.听For patients, some of the听听are:
- Enhanced coping skills
- Improved health outcomes
- Feeling cared for and respected
- Increased satisfaction and confidence
- Better compliance with treatment plans
For healthcare practitioners,听benefits of compassionate care may include:
- A sense of satisfaction from helping others
- Improved working relationships with colleagues
- Increased job satisfaction
- Reduced stress levels
Although healthcare workers continue to work in challenging conditions, providing compassionate care to patients is a rewarding experience. It has the potential to make a difficult job more rewarding and create a rapport that could improve patient care.
Standards of care
Standards of care, evidence-based decision-making, policies, procedures and proper training are meant to regulate and improve patient care across the board.
Patients who feel their provider is listening and being compassionate may likely provide more details about their symptoms, social history and personal care practices. This may reveal certain information that can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and treatment.
On the other hand, if patients feel their provider does not care about them, they may withhold information because they are not comfortable, resulting in delayed or inaccurate treatment.
Avoiding burnout
It might seem counterintuitive, but there is a way that more compassionate care can actually benefit healthcare providers from experiencing burnout.
While compassion might require a greater expenditure of energy, it can also provide a sense of accomplishment.听When compassionate providers successfully treat a patient, they can听see the impact firsthand. This can lead to increased motivation, which helps to dispel cynicism, withdrawal and burnout.听
How can healthcare professionals take a more compassionate approach to patient care?
There are guidelines that can benefit most providers in taking a more compassionate approach to patient care.听, suggests the following:
1.听听听听听听Sitting instead of standing while speaking with a patient
2.听听听听听听Paying attention to nonverbal cues听
3.听听听听听听Looking for opportunities to show compassion
4.听听听听听听Demonstrating compassion both nonverbally and verbally
These researchers found that certain training methods were more successful in building compassion in healthcare professionals. For example, professionals benefit from being听able to practice compassion听rather than listening to a lecture about its importance.
Healthcare providers benefit from learning how to engage in:
- Verbal explanation
- Small talk
- Listening
- Calming
- Encouragement
- Nodding and smiling
- Supportive touching
How to practice compassion as a healthcare professional听
Begin with self-compassion. Learning how to empathize with others may not come easily to healthcare professionals who haven鈥檛 learned previously how to do it for themselves. However, it is a skill that can be learned and practiced.
Listen actively听
It may seem like common sense, but making an honest effort to listen to a patient鈥檚 words can be the biggest difference in building compassion. This means being present in the moment and giving your full attention to the person speaking. Active listening also involves trying to understand what the other person is feeling. This can be done by paying attention to their body language and tone of voice.
Some tips for active listening are:
- Ask questions
- Make eye contact
- Put away distractions
- Repeat back what the other person has said
Answer questions
When patients ask questions, it鈥檚 essential to give them honest answers. This doesn鈥檛 mean you need to share every detail about their diagnosis or treatment. It does mean, however, being truthful.
Likewise, delicate information requires a compassionate and honest approach. Tips for answering questions openly and honestly include:
- Using tones and words that are respectful and nonjudgmental
- Acknowledging that some questions may be challenging to answer
- Using language that is easy to understand
- Avoiding medical jargon
Provide comfort when possible听
It is important to provide some level of comfort to patients. This can be done in various ways, depending on the situation. Examples of providing comfort include:
- Using positive and reassuring body language
- Offering words of encouragement
- Spending extra time with patients
- Helping to make sure patients have everything they need
It鈥檚 essential to set healthy boundaries to avoid compassion fatigue. This means knowing your limits and taking time for yourself when needed. Tips for setting healthy boundaries include:
- Saying no when you need to
- Asking for help from colleagues
- Making time for self-care
- Staying up to date on your mental health
Set patients up for success
Helping patients succeed is one of the most powerful things healthcare providers can do. This means providing them with the resources and information to make informed decisions about their health.
听Some ways to set patients up for success are:
- Educating them about their condition
- Helping them understand their treatment options
- Referring them to specialists
- Connecting them with support groups
- Giving them resources to make healthy lifestyle changes
These may seem like small things but taken together they can leave a patient feeling more heard and cared for. And the ripple effects of that can be far-reaching.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at 七色视频 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Mark J贸hannsson is the Dean of the听 College of Health Professions. He has a career spanning over 35 years of healthcare management, public health practice, higher education administration, teaching and clinical/behavioral research within corporate, community and academic settings. He has served as both an educational and keynote speaker, and he has been published in a variety of peer-reviewed and periodic literature.
This article has been vetted by 七色视频's editorial advisory committee.听
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