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Perceptions of Empathic and Compassionate Healthcare Encounters: An International Exploratory Qualitative Descriptive Study.

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Title: Perceptions of Empathic and Compassionate Healthcare Encounters: An International Exploratory Qualitative Descriptive Study.
Authors: Tunks Leach, Katie J., Barker, Mary‐Ellen, Hales, Caz, Holmberg, Bodil, Holmberg, Mats, Jakimowicz, Samantha, Rook, Helen, Sherwood, Gwen, Streit, Linda, Levett‐Jones, Tracy
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. Jun2025, Vol. 39 Issue 2, p1-11. 11p.
Subjects: Empathy, Qualitative research, Compassion, Significant others, Medical care, Human beings, Surveys, Thematic analysis, Patient-professional relations, Research, Research methodology, Conceptual structures, Patients' attitudes, Psychosocial factors, Health care teams
Geographic Terms: Australia, Europe, New Zealand, United States
Abstract: Background: Empathy and compassion are integral to person‐centred care. Contemporary literature also provides evidence of the impact of empathic and compassionate care on patient outcomes, including enhanced satisfaction with care and improved patient safety. Notably, a previous scoping review identified only a limited number of studies exploring patients' experiences of empathic and compassionate care, underscoring the need for further research on patients' and their significant others' perspectives and experiences of empathic and compassionate healthcare encounters. Objective: The aim of this paper is to explore patients' and their significant others' perceptions of empathic and compassionate healthcare encounters. Methods: This qualitative descriptive international survey recruited people who were willing to report on a personal experience with a healthcare professional that demonstrated positive or negative examples of empathic and/or compassionate care. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis. Results: A total of 84 participants from the Pacific region, the United States of America, and Europe reported encounters with nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, and multidisciplinary teams. Analysis revealed four overarching themes: (1) Verbal and non‐verbal communication; (2) Clinician attitudes and attributes; (3) The power of small, thoughtful gestures; and (4) Enduring impact of empathic care. Conclusions: To promote empathic and compassionate care, there needs to be a holistic focus on practitioner communication across the bio‐psycho‐social‐spiritual domains. When these elements are included in interactions with patients and their significant others, healthcare providers can have a powerful and long‐lasting impact on people's experiences and health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Perceptions of Empathic and Compassionate Healthcare Encounters: An International Exploratory Qualitative Descriptive Study.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Scandinavian+Journal+of+Caring+Sciences%22">Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences</searchLink>. Jun2025, Vol. 39 Issue 2, p1-11. 11p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empathy%22">Empathy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Compassion%22">Compassion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Significant+others%22">Significant others</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+care%22">Medical care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+beings%22">Human beings</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surveys%22">Surveys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient-professional+relations%22">Patient-professional relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research%22">Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Conceptual+structures%22">Conceptual structures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patients'+attitudes%22">Patients' attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychosocial+factors%22">Psychosocial factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+care+teams%22">Health care teams</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Background: Empathy and compassion are integral to person‐centred care. Contemporary literature also provides evidence of the impact of empathic and compassionate care on patient outcomes, including enhanced satisfaction with care and improved patient safety. Notably, a previous scoping review identified only a limited number of studies exploring patients' experiences of empathic and compassionate care, underscoring the need for further research on patients' and their significant others' perspectives and experiences of empathic and compassionate healthcare encounters. Objective: The aim of this paper is to explore patients' and their significant others' perceptions of empathic and compassionate healthcare encounters. Methods: This qualitative descriptive international survey recruited people who were willing to report on a personal experience with a healthcare professional that demonstrated positive or negative examples of empathic and/or compassionate care. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis. Results: A total of 84 participants from the Pacific region, the United States of America, and Europe reported encounters with nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, and multidisciplinary teams. Analysis revealed four overarching themes: (1) Verbal and non‐verbal communication; (2) Clinician attitudes and attributes; (3) The power of small, thoughtful gestures; and (4) Enduring impact of empathic care. Conclusions: To promote empathic and compassionate care, there needs to be a holistic focus on practitioner communication across the bio‐psycho‐social‐spiritual domains. When these elements are included in interactions with patients and their significant others, healthcare providers can have a powerful and long‐lasting impact on people's experiences and health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=186223869
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        Value: 10.1111/scs.70006
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Empathy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
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      – SubjectFull: Compassion
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              Text: Jun2025
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