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Routine, empathic and compassionate patient care: definitions, development, obstacles, education and beneficiaries
Author(s) -
Post Stephen G.,
Ng Lauren E.,
Fischel Janet E.,
Bennett Mary,
Bily Linda,
Chandran Latha,
Joyce Jeremiah,
Locicero Briana,
McGovern Kelly,
McKeefrey Robyn L.,
Rodriguez Jackie V.,
Roess Michael W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1111/jep.12243
Subject(s) - empathy , sympathy , compassion , context (archaeology) , psychology , health care , bioethics , nursing , medicine , medical education , social psychology , paleontology , genetics , political science , law , economics , biology , economic growth
Abstract Rationale We believe that this study represents an innovative approach to clarifying the definitions of routine, empathic and compassionate health care, as well as of sympathy. We emphasize the importance of affective empathy and its intensification in the context of patient suffering (compassion), without abandoning the ideal of clinical equanimity. Methods We develop a pedagogical model for clinicians and trainees who are weaker in their empathic skills that includes four levels of growth. We clarify representative obstacles to empathic and compassionate care in education and clinical practice. We summarize the four beneficiaries of empathic and compassionate care (clinicians, patients, trainees, institutions). We suggest areas for future research, including the development of a compassion scale and conclude with a statement on how the conceptual and professional confusion we address adversely impacts patients and trainees. The article represents the consensus work of a group of health care professionals and students at S tony B rook U niversity H ospital and S chool of M edicine who have been engaged in this project for several years through the C enter for M edical H umanities, C ompassionate C are, and B ioethics, established in A ugust of 2008. Conclusions We discern a shift away from concepts of clinical empathy and compassionate care that deny a significant place for an affective component and that idealize ‘detachment’.