Compassion training in healthcare: what are patients’ perspectives on training healthcare providers?
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate advanced cancer patients' perspectives on the importance, feasibility, teaching methods, and issues associated with training healthcare providers in compassionate care. METHODS: This study utilized grounded theory, a qualitative research method, to develop an empirical understanding of compassion education rooted in direct patient reports. Audio-recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain an in-depth understanding of compassion training from the perspectives of hospitalized advanced cancer patients (n = 53). Data were analyzed in accordance with grounded theory to determine the key elements of the underlying theory. RESULTS: Three overarching categories and associated themes emerged from the data: compassion aptitude, cultivating compassion, and training methods. Participants spoke of compassion as an innate quality embedded in the character of learners prior to their healthcare training, which could be nurtured through experiential learning and reflective practices. Patients felt that the innate qualities that learners possessed at baseline were further fashioned by personal and practice experiences, and vocational motivators. Participants also provided recommendations for compassion training, including developing an interpersonal relationship with patients, seeing the patient as a person, and developing a human connection. Teaching methods that patients suggested in compassion training included patient-centered communication, self-reflection exercises, and compassionate role modeling. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight on compassion training for both current and future healthcare providers, from the perspectives of the end recipients of healthcare provider training - patients. Developing a theoretical base for patient centred, evidence-informed, compassion training is a crucial initial step toward the further development of this core healthcare competency.
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Patient's perceived compassion as being rooted in the virtues of their health care provider, generating the first evidence-based definition of compassion-a virtuous response that seeks to address the suffering and needs of a person through relational understanding and action.
“They concluded that patient’s perceived compassion as being rooted in the virtues of their health care provider, generating the first evidence-based definition of compassion—a virtuous response that seeks to address the suffering and needs of a person through relational understanding and action.”
From Mindfulness and compassion-oriented practices at work reduce distress and enhance self-care of palliative care teams: a mixed-method evaluation of an "on the job" program. (2018) · cites this paper as [74]
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAlthough the roots of compassion seem to be innate, current evidence suggests that training, including meditation, can help to sustain compassion and nurture it over time.
“Thus, although the roots of compassion seem to be innate, current evidence suggests that training, including meditation, can help to sustain compassion and nurture it over time.”
Compassion qualities can be cultivated or eroded over time, with practice setting being one of the most powerful modifiers.
“The authors note however that, compassion qualities can be cultivated or eroded over time, with practice setting being one of the most powerful modifiers.”
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- Authors
- Sinclair, S., Torres, M.-B., Raffin-Bouchal, S., Hack, T. F., McClement, S., Hagen, N. A., & Chochinov, H. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Calgary (CA)
- University of Manitoba (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Sinclair, Shane
- Venue
- BMC Medical Education
- Published
- 2016-07-11
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 169-169
- ISSN
- 1472-6920 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4939589
- OpenAlex
- W2460551072
- Cited by
- 100
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 9.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Medical Education (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Mspace (University of Manitoba) (submittedVersion)
- Libraries and Cultural Resources (University of Calgary) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (125931)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Empathy and Medical Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Keywords
- compassion training, compassionate care, advanced cancer patients, patient perspectives, health professions education, experiential learning, reflective practice, patient-centered communication, end-of-life care
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Empathy, Female, Health Personnel, Humans, Inpatients, Interpersonal Relations, Interviews as Topic, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Patient Satisfaction, Patient-Centered Care, Qualitative Research
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