Abstract
Background The delivery of compassionate care is a national priority in the National Health Service in the United Kingdom due to concerns about poor standards of care and perceived lack of compassion in nursing. However, there is a lack of clarity about the meaning of compassionate care and limited research on compassionate care in acute mental health care settings. This study sought to address the gap and contribute to the body of knowledge on compassionate care in acute mental health care settings.
Aim and objectives The overall aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of service users, carers, registered nurses and healthcare assistants about the meaning of compassionate care in acute mental health care settings and how it can be recognised and enabled.
Methods This was a qualitative study utilising a purposive sample of service users (n=9), carers (n=3), RNs (n=6) and HCAs (n=6) from one acute mental health trust. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with the service users and from three separate focus group discussions with carers, RNs and HCAs. Data were analysed using framework analysis to identify themes emerging from the data.
Findings Data analysis revealed the meaning of compassionate care as understanding the person, presence, noticing and responding to distress, showing genuine interest, as well as meeting expectations and going the extra mile for service users. Factors that facilitated compassionate care included leadership, good teamwork, qualities of staff and having adequate resources. Barriers to compassionate care were identified as organisational factors, acuity of service users’ conditions and negative staff attitudes. It was apparent that structural processes and caring attributes helped to embed compassionate care. Positive effects of receiving compassionate care, for service users and carers, and of delivering compassionate care, for RNs and HCAs, emerged from the data. Centrality of compassionate care within mental health and the link with the therapeutic relationship was identified.
Conclusion The study identified a relationship between the meaning of compassionate care and therapeutic relationship, which reinforces the importance of the therapeutic relationship in acute mental health care settings. The findings revealed that presence, which is crucial in acute mental health care, could promote compassionate care whilst burnout and aggression towards staff could hinder its delivery. Furthermore, the study has contributed to knowledge by developing a model that could promote compassionate care and enhance the therapeutic relationship in acute mental health care.
Date of Award | 1 May 2019 |
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Original language | English |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisor | Jill Maben (Supervisor) & Jaqualyn Moore (Supervisor) |