‘It's very values driven’: A qualitative systematic review of the meaning of compassion according to healthcare professionals

Abstract

Aims and Objectives

To explore the meaning ascribed to the concept of compassion by healthcare professionals.

Background

Compassion is universally regarded as the foundation of healthcare, a core value of healthcare organisations, and essential to the provision of quality care. Despite increasing research on compassion in healthcare, how healthcare professionals understand compassion remains unclear.

Design

A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted and is reported following PRISMA guidelines.

Method

Medline, Emcare, PsychINFO and CINAHL were searched to November 2021 for qualitative studies in English that explored healthcare professionals' understandings of compassion. Included studies were appraised for quality before data were extracted and thematically analysed.

Findings

Seventeen papers met the inclusion criteria. An overarching theme, ‘It's very values driven’ underpins the four main themes identified: (1) ‘It's about people and working with them’: Compassion as being human, (2) ‘There is this feeling’: Compassion as being present, (3) ‘If I don't understand them, I won't be able to help’: Compassion as understanding, (4) ‘Wanting to help in some way’: Compassion as action.

Conclusions

Healthcare professional participants reported compassion as motivated by values and inherent to humanistic healthcare practice. The meanings healthcare professions described were varied and contextual. Qualitative research should further explore healthcare practitioners' experiences of compassion as part of their practice to inform health professions education, policy, and practice.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

To practice with compassion, healthcare professionals require supportive and humanistic organisations that honour each person's humanity and encourage people to be human and compassionate to each other as well as to patients, their families and/or carers.

Healthcare professionals need to reflect on what compassion means to them, how it is situated within their unique practice context, and how compassion can enhance clinical practice.

No Patient or Public Contribution

This systematic review had no patient or public contribution.