Abstract
ObjectiveCompassion is important to patients and their families, predicts positive patient and practitioner outcomes, and is a professional requirement of physicians around the globe. Yet, despite the value placed on compassion, the empirical study of compassion remains in its infancy and little is known regarding what compassion ‘looks like’ to patients. The current study addresses limitations in prior work by asking patients what physicians do that helps them feel cared for.MethodsTopic modelling analysis was employed to identify empirical commonalities in the text responses of 767 patients describing physician behaviours that led to their feeling cared for.ResultsDescriptively, seven meaningful groupings of physician actions experienced as compassion emerged: listening and paying attention (71% of responses), following‐up and running tests (11%), continuity and holistic care (8%), respecting preferences (4%), genuine understanding (2%), body language and empathy (2%) and counselling and advocacy (1%).ConclusionThese findings supplement prior work by identifying concrete actions that are experienced as caring by patients. These early data may provide clinicians with useful information to enhance their ability to customize care, strengthen patient–physician relationships and, ultimately, practice medicine in a way that is experienced as compassionate by patients.Public ContributionThis study involves the analysis of data provided by a diverse sample of patients from the general community population of New Zealand.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call