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. 2021 Apr;77(4):1980-1991.
doi: 10.1111/jan.14766. Epub 2021 Feb 9.

The expression and receipt of compassion through touch in a health setting; a qualitative study

Joanne Durkin  1 , Debra Jackson  2 , Kim Usher  1
Affiliations

The expression and receipt of compassion through touch in a health setting; a qualitative study

Joanne Durkin et al. J Adv Nurs. 2021 Apr.

Abstract
in English, Chinese

Aim: To investigate and understand how compassion is expressed by nurses and received by patients in a hospital setting.

Background: Concerns regarding the absence of compassion in a healthcare setting has necessitated further research in the field. To define and measure compassion is difficult and problematic. Compassion is subjective and in the contemporary literature the views of patients are under-represented. Touch is an important component of nursing practice and can also be considered problematic.

Design: Secondary analysis of narrative interviews.

Methods: Secondary analysis of 12 participant interviews with nurses (n-4) and patients (n-8). Data were collected between August 2018 and August 2019.

Findings: Compassion was expressed and received through touch for nurses and patients. Patients receive compassion through the touch of the nurse and this touch conveyed comfort and safety. Touch allowed for the establishment of an authentic connection between nurse and patient. Nurses used touch to express compassion and patients received compassion when they were comforted with touch. Compassion was present in incidental touch and deliberate comforting touch. Nurses were respectful of the meanings of touch. Patients describe nurses knowing when to touch and using touch appropriately.

Conclusions: Nurses in our study were respectful of the meaning of touch for their patients and described using touch to convey compassion. Patients in our study perceived compassion through the touch by the nurse. Through these narratives, touch is revealed as an essential part of compassionate practice conveying safety, authenticity and connection.

Impact: Patients in this study describe receiving compassion through the use of touch which made them feel safe. Nurses in this study used touch to create an authentic connection with patients and were aware of the different meanings of touch. Avoiding touch, being wary of touch, or considering touch taboo robs patients of compassion moments.

目的: 调查并了解在医院环境中, 护士如何表达同情以及患者如何接受。 背景: 医疗环境中缺少同情, 需要在该领域展开进一步研究。同情的定义和衡量相对困难且存在一定问题。同情具有主观性, 根据现有文献, 患者的观点遭到无视。抚摸是护理实践的一个重要组成部分, 然而, 部分人员认为, 这个做法存在问题。 设计: 叙述访谈二次分析。 方法: 对12名参与者、护士 (n-4) 和患者 (n-8) 的访谈进行二次分析。数据收集时间为2018年8月至2019年8月。 调查结果: 可通过抚摸向护士和患者表达或接受同情。抚摸表示舒适和安全, 患者可通过护士的抚摸得感到宽慰。护士和患者可通过抚摸建立真实联系。过去, 护士通过抚摸表达同情, 而患者在被抚摸的同时感到宽慰。无论是偶然触碰, 还是有意抚摸, 都可表示同情。护士认为抚摸具有神圣之意。患者称, 护士已明确抚摸的时间和方式。 结论: 本研究中, 护士认为抚摸对患者而言具有神圣之意, 并且, 护士表示, 可通过抚摸来表示同情。研究结果表明, 护士抚摸后, 患者可感到宽慰。通过叙述, 可判定抚摸是传递安全性、真实性和联系的一种方法, 同样是慈悲实践的重要组成部分。 影响: 研究结果表明, 患者通过抚摸获得同情, 因此感到安全。本研究中, 护士通过抚摸与患者建立真实联系, 并意识到抚摸具有不同含义。如果避免、警惕、禁止抚摸, 则可视为患者获得同情的权利遭到剥夺。.

Keywords: compassion; empathy; health professional-patient relations; healthcare; hospital; patient-nurse relations; touch.

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