What are healthcare providers’ understandings and experiences of compassion? The healthcare compassion model: a grounded theory study of healthcare providers in Canada

Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare providers are considered the primary conduit of compassion in healthcare. Although most healthcare providers desire to provide compassion, and patients and families expect to receive it, an evidence-based understanding of the construct and its associated dimensions from the perspective of healthcare providers is needed.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate healthcare providers’ perspectives and experiences of compassion in order to generate an empirically derived, clinically informed model.DesignData were collected via focus groups with frontline healthcare providers and interviews with peer-nominated exemplary compassionate healthcare providers. Data were independently and collectively analysed by the research team in accordance with Straussian grounded theory.Setting and participants57 healthcare providers were recruited from urban and rural palliative care services spanning hospice, home care, hospital-based consult teams, and a dedicated inpatient unit within Alberta, Canada.ResultsFive categories and 13 associated themes were identified, illustrated in the Healthcare Provider Compassion Model depicting the dimensions of compassion and their relationship to one another. Compassion was conceptualised as—a virtuous and intentional response to know a person, to discern their needs and ameliorate their suffering through relational understanding and action.ConclusionsAn empirical foundation of healthcare providers’ perspectives on providing compassionate care was generated. While the dimensions of the Healthcare Provider Compassion Model were congruent with the previously developed Patient Model, further insight into compassion is now evident. The Healthcare Provider Compassion Model provides a model to guide clinical practice and research focused on developing interventions, measures and resources to improve it.

Determining the association of high‐commitment human resource practices with nurses’ compassionate care behaviour: A cross‐sectional investigation

“…Nijboer and der Cingel Van () qualitative study on compassion's meaning and what factors sustain and develop CC in novice nurses finds that nurses’ personal awareness of CC, support, the contributions of role models and professional coaching are central to the provision of CC. Sinclair et al () focus on the concept of compassion, what it means to health care providers, and how they practice it and find the qualities, skills, knowledge and behaviours that are crucial for the delivery of CC at clinical sites (Sinclair et al, ).…”

Healthcare providers’ perspectives on perceived barriers and facilitators of compassion: Results from a grounded theory study

“…To address this gap, we conducted a grounded theory study exploring HCPs’ perspectives on the nature of compassion and the associated facilitators and barriers within the context of health care specifically. The former study aim generated a HCP model of the construct of compassion which has been previously reported (Sinclair et al., ), wherein participants were asked to define compassion which led to compassion being conceptualised as “a virtuous and intentional response to know a person, to discern their needs and ameliorate their suffering through relational understanding and action.” On the other hand, this study aimed to gain insight into the perceived barriers and facilitators of compassion from the perspective of HCPs.…”

The epidemic of compassion fatigue

“…The goal of compassion is to ameliorate suffering, and sometimes our words and presence are the best care we can offer. [8][9][10] In my experience, if the medical profession is to combat this epidemic of compassion fatigue, significant changes in medical training and practice need to occur.…”