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

Durkin, J; Jackson, D; Usher, K

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

Durkin, J Jackson, D

Usher, K

Permalink

Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2021, 77, (4), pp. 1980-1991
Issue Date:: 2021-04

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	jan.14766.pdf		592.44 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Durkin, J
dc.contributor.author	Jackson, D https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5252-5325
dc.contributor.author	Usher, K https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9686-5003
dc.date.accessioned	2021-11-17T03:32:04Z
dc.date.available	2021-01-11
dc.date.available	2021-11-17T03:32:04Z
dc.date.issued	2021-04
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2021, 77, (4), pp. 1980-1991
dc.identifier.issn	0309-2402
dc.identifier.issn	1365-2648
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151659
dc.description.abstract	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.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Advanced Nursing
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/jan.14766
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1110 Nursing
dc.subject.classification	Nursing
dc.subject.mesh	Empathy
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Narration
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Touch
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Narration
dc.subject.mesh	Empathy
dc.subject.mesh	Touch
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals
dc.subject.mesh	Empathy
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Narration
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Touch
dc.title	The expression and receipt of compassion through touch in a health setting; a qualitative study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	77
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1110 Nursing
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2021-11-17T03:32:03Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	77
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

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.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151659