Jason Mills1, Timothy Wand2, Jennifer A Fraser2. 1. PhD Candidate. Lecturer, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, QLD Australia. 2. Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney, NSW Australia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Compassion is arguably central to palliative care. However, calls for the restoring of compassionate care suggest a need for greater understanding and promotion of compassion in practice. Drawing upon the Foucauldian concept 'Care of the Self', this review explored the literature relating to palliative care professionals' self-care, self-compassion, and compassion for others. METHODS: Three electronic databases were searched using identified key words. A thematic approach was used to synthesise and critically discuss the literature in the form of a narrative review. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: (1) importance of self-care; (2) awareness, expression, and planning; (3) dimensions of self-care; and (4) balanced compassion. Approaches to self-care practice and research focused mainly on compassion fatigue or a coping paradigm. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights both the importance and multifaceted nature of palliative care professionals' self-care, in relation to self-compassion and compassion for others. Despite widespread discussion, empirical knowledge of these variables is limited. Future research could usefully explore health promotion interventions in self-care practice, or a positive psychology paradigm that encompasses compassion and self-compassion as positive emotions associated with wellbeing.
INTRODUCTION: Compassion is arguably central to palliative care. However, calls for the restoring of compassionate care suggest a need for greater understanding and promotion of compassion in practice. Drawing upon the Foucauldian concept 'Care of the Self', this review explored the literature relating to palliative care professionals' self-care, self-compassion, and compassion for others. METHODS: Three electronic databases were searched using identified key words. A thematic approach was used to synthesise and critically discuss the literature in the form of a narrative review. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: (1) importance of self-care; (2) awareness, expression, and planning; (3) dimensions of self-care; and (4) balanced compassion. Approaches to self-care practice and research focused mainly on compassion fatigue or a coping paradigm. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights both the importance and multifaceted nature of palliative care professionals' self-care, in relation to self-compassion and compassion for others. Despite widespread discussion, empirical knowledge of these variables is limited. Future research could usefully explore health promotion interventions in self-care practice, or a positive psychology paradigm that encompasses compassion and self-compassion as positive emotions associated with wellbeing.
Authors: María D Ruiz-Fernández; Juan D Ramos-Pichardo; Olivia Ibáñez-Masero; María I Carmona-Rega; Máximo J Sánchez-Ruiz; Ángela M Ortega-Galán Journal: Res Nurs Health Date: 2021-05-25 Impact factor: 2.238
Authors: Nerea Jiménez-Picón; Macarena Romero-Martín; José Antonio Ponce-Blandón; Lucia Ramirez-Baena; Juan Carlos Palomo-Lara; Juan Gómez-Salgado Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-20 Impact factor: 3.390