How do patients experience caring? Scoping review

Hannah Gillespie, Martina Kelly, Sarah Duggan, Tim Dornan*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

22 Citations (Web of Science)

Abstract

Objective: Summarise empirical research into patients' experiences of caring in order to promote this as a core condition for the work of health professionals.

Methods: A review team: carried out a scoping review with a phenomenological orientation that did not privilege any profession or context of care; comprehensively searched six databases from inception to the present, including all English language articles that report patients' lived experiences of caring; and identified and contrasted uncaring experiences.

Results: 43 articles straddled nursing, medicine, and physiotherapy, and a wide range of care settings. Patients experienced caring when competent professionals displayed positive attitudes, communicated effectively, formed relationships, helped them navigate clinical services, and engaged emotionally.

Conclusion: This research provides a rich description of caring, which was derived from patients', rather than professionals', experiences.

Practice implications: Whilst publications and basic professional curricula are dominated by the perspectives of single professions, this research describes patients' experiences that can prepare all health professionals to be caring in collaborative, interprofessional practice. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1622-1633
Number of pages12
JournalPatient Education and Counseling
Volume100
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2017

Keywords

  • Caring
  • Scoping review
  • Interprofessional learning
  • Patient centred
  • Patients' experiences
  • Education
  • PATIENTS PERSPECTIVES
  • CARE PROFESSIONALS
  • HEALTH
  • BEHAVIORS
  • PERCEPTIONS
  • QUALITY
  • CANCER
  • USERS

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