Sympathy, empathy, and compassion: A grounded theory study of palliative care patients' understandings, experiences, and preferences

被引:250
|
作者
Sinclair, Shane [1 ,2 ]
Beamer, Kate [1 ]
Hack, Thomas F. [3 ,4 ]
McClement, Susan [3 ,4 ]
Bouchal, Shelley Raffin [1 ]
Chochinov, Harvey M. [3 ,5 ]
Hagen, Neil A. [2 ,6 ,7 ]
机构
[1] Univ Calgary, Fac Nursing, 2500 Univ Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
[2] Univ Calgary, Cumming Sch Med, Dept Oncol, Calgary, AB, Canada
[3] CancerCare Manitoba, Manitoba Palliat Care Res Unit, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
[4] Univ Manitoba, Rady Fac Hlth Sci, Coll Nursing, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
[5] Univ Manitoba, Dept Psychiat, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
[6] Univ Calgary, Cumming Sch Med, Dept Clin Neurosci, Calgary, AB, Canada
[7] Univ Calgary, Cumming Sch Med, Dept Med, Calgary, AB, Canada
基金
加拿大健康研究院;
关键词
Sympathy; empathy; compassion; advanced cancer; palliative care; grounded theory; OF-LIFE CARE; HEALTH-CARE; PHYSICIAN EMPATHY; MEDICAL-STUDENTS; END; PERCEPTIONS; SATISFACTION; PERSPECTIVE; BEHAVIORS; QUALITY;
D O I
10.1177/0269216316663499
中图分类号
R19 [保健组织与事业(卫生事业管理)];
学科分类号
摘要
Background: Compassion is considered an essential element in quality patient care. One of the conceptual challenges in healthcare literature is that compassion is often confused with sympathy and empathy. Studies comparing and contrasting patients' perspectives of sympathy, empathy, and compassion are largely absent. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate advanced cancer patients' understandings, experiences, and preferences of sympathy, empathy, and compassion in order to develop conceptual clarity for future research and to inform clinical practice. Design: Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and then independently analyzed by the research team using the three stages and principles of Straussian grounded theory. Setting/participants: Data were collected from 53 advanced cancer inpatients in a large urban hospital. Results: Constructs of sympathy, empathy, and compassion contain distinct themes and sub-themes. Sympathy was described as an unwanted, pity-based response to a distressing situation, characterized by a lack of understanding and self-preservation of the observer. Empathy was experienced as an affective response that acknowledges and attempts to understand individual's suffering through emotional resonance. Compassion enhanced the key facets of empathy while adding distinct features of being motivated by love, the altruistic role of the responder, action, and small, supererogatory acts of kindness. Patients reported that unlike sympathy, empathy and compassion were beneficial, with compassion being the most preferred and impactful. Conclusion: Although sympathy, empathy, and compassion are used interchangeably and frequently conflated in healthcare literature, patients distinguish and experience them uniquely. Understanding patients' perspectives is important and can guide practice, policy reform, and future research.
引用
收藏
页码:437 / 447
页数:11
相关论文
共 50 条
  • [1] What are healthcare providers' understandings and experiences of compassion? The healthcare compassion model: a grounded theory study of healthcare providers in Canada
    Sinclair, Shane
    Hack, Thomas F.
    Raffin-Bouchal, Shelley
    McClement, Susan
    Stajduhar, Kelli
    Singh, Pavneet
    Hagen, Neil A.
    Sinnarajah, Aynharan
    Chochinov, Harvey Max
    [J]. BMJ OPEN, 2018, 8 (03):
  • [2] Peeling the Onion: Patients' Perspectives and Experiences of the Similarities and Differences of Sympathy, Empathy and Compassion
    Sinclair, Shane
    Hack, Thomas F.
    McClement, Susan
    Raffin-Bouchal, Shelley
    [J]. JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, 2016, 52 (06) : E147 - E148
  • [3] Preferences for home care to enable home death among adult patients with cancer in late palliative phase – a grounded theory study
    Toril Merete Nysæter
    Cecilia Olsson
    Tuva Sandsdalen
    Bodil Wilde-Larsson
    Reidun Hov
    Maria Larsson
    [J]. BMC Palliative Care, 21
  • [4] Preferences for home care to enable home death among adult patients with cancer in late palliative phase - a grounded theory study
    Nysaeter, Toril Merete
    Olsson, Cecilia
    Sandsdalen, Tuva
    Wilde-Larsson, Bodil
    Hov, Reidun
    Larsson, Maria
    [J]. BMC PALLIATIVE CARE, 2022, 21 (01)
  • [5] Grasping the nutritional situation: a grounded theory study of patients' experiences in intensive care
    Persenius, Mona W.
    Hall-Lord, Marie L.
    Wilde-Larsson, Bodil
    [J]. NURSING IN CRITICAL CARE, 2009, 14 (04) : 166 - 174
  • [6] A Grounded Theory of Healthcare Providers' Experiences of Awe And Practice of Compassion in Long-Term Care
    Harris, Daranne
    Sinclair, Shane
    [J]. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, 2020, 19
  • [7] A grounded theory study exploring palliative care healthcare professionals' experiences of managing digital legacy as part of advance care planning for people receiving palliative care
    Stanley, Sarah
    Higginbotham, Karen
    Finucane, Anne
    Nwosu, Amara Callistus
    [J]. PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, 2023, 37 (09) : 1424 - 1433
  • [8] Nurses' experiences of compassion when giving palliative care at home
    Devik, Siri Andreassen
    Enmarker, Ingela
    Hellzen, Ove
    [J]. NURSING ETHICS, 2020, 27 (01) : 194 - 205
  • [9] Home care needs of paediatric palliative patients perceived by professionals: A grounded theory
    Santana-Medina, Jesus
    Rodriguez-Suarez, Claudio Alberto
    [J]. ENFERMERIA CLINICA, 2023, 33 (03): : 184 - 194
  • [10] Patients' experiences of and roles in interprofessional collaborative practice in primary care: a constructivist grounded theory study
    Davidson, Alexandra R.
    Morgan, Mark
    Ball, Lauren
    Reidlinger, Dianne P.
    [J]. PRIMARY HEALTH CARE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, 2024, 25