Kindness, Listening, and Connection: Patient and Clinician Key Requirements for Emotional Support in Chronic and Complex Care

Abstract

Emotional support for patients is critical for achieving person-centered care. However, the literature evidences an ongoing challenge in embedding emotional support within current health services. This study aimed to investigate the strategies to embed emotional support from the perspectives of patients and clinicians. This is an exploratory qualitative study that collected data through focus group discussions (FGDs) and interviews from 11 patients, 2 carers, and 7 clinicians in the multi-disciplinary care teams in an outpatient complex and chronic care setting in New South Wales, Australia. The FGDs and interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Three main themes emerged from the experience of both the patients and clinicians: (1) warmth and kindness, (2) deep listening, and (3) social connection in the process of treatment. Clinicians’ and patients’ shared experience of these themes was key to embed emotional support in care. Practical strategies including promoting shared understanding of emotional support, enhancing provider's capability to deliver emotional support, and building patient's networking opportunities in treatment processes were discussed to facilitate emotional support in patient care and health services.

Exploring the Challenges Encountered and Strategies Employed by Nurses when Confronted with Moral Decisions: Implication on Moral Competence

“…Stable emotional and mental status results in better patient outcomes, and nurses are the right people to assist patients in facing challenges (Lamar University, 2020). Emotional support is demonstrated through warmth and kindness, deep listening, and social connection in the treatment process (Bradshaw et al, 2022). The nurse's compassionate behavior has a high emotional effect on patients, making them feel considered and cared for.…”

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“…Ponadto większość prac odwołuje się do metaanaliz literatury [26,38], a w przypadku badań o charakterze klinicznym opiera się na samoocenach badanych pacjentów, zwykle zbieranych retrospektywnie. Często też stosowane bywają metody jakościowe [39] lub analizy korelacyjne danych pozyskanych za pomocą kwestionariuszy [32]. Jedną z przyczyn takiego stanu rzeczy są prawdopodobnie z jednej strony trudności w prowadzeniu eksperymentalnych badań o charakterze psychologicznym w warunkach klinicznych, a z drugiej -powszechnie akceptowany już pogląd, zgodnie z którym wspierające kontakty wywierają na ogół korzystny wpływ na stan zdrowia [26].…”

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