Systemic factors in compassionate healthcare: predictors and organisational interventions

Tunstall, Lydia

Abstract

This thesis portfolio comprises three parts: a systematic literature review, an empirical paper, and appendices. This thesis aims to explore the systemic factors in compassionate healthcare, namely predictors of submissive compassion and healthcare staff experiences of organisational interventions.
Part One: Systematic Literature Review
This systematic literature review explores healthcare staff experiences of organisational interventions for compassionate care. Following a systematic search, eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria and therefore were included in the review. Qualitative data were synthesised using thematic synthesis. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Methodological Quality Checklist for Qualitative Studies was used to assess the quality of included studies. Four overall themes were identified: (1) holding back, (2) humanising healthcare, (3) values are instilled, and (4) it needs to be sustainable. Organisational interventions have an important role in facilitating compassionate healthcare. Implications and recommendations discuss how challenges to implementation can be traversed.
Part Two: Empirical Paper
The empirical paper explores the concept of submissive compassion and its predictors and moderators in a healthcare setting. A quantitative methodology was utilised, using an online survey to collect the following information: age, gender, ethnicity, time spent working in the NHS, profession, line manager status, submissive compassion, moral injury, emotional climate, and the flow of compassion. Healthcare staff had higher levels of submissive compassion in comparison to the general population. A multiple linear regression model demonstrated that younger participants who had worked in the NHS for less time, who were working in threat based emotional climates, and experienced greater moral injury and greater fear of compassion from others are more susceptible to submissive compassion. No moderation effects were found.

Citation

Tunstall, L. (2024). Systemic factors in compassionate healthcare: predictors and organisational interventions. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4920924

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 19, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 19, 2024
• Keywords: Healthcare; Compassion; Organisational intervention; Systematic review; Qualitative evidence synthesis
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4920924
• Additional Information: Clinical Psychology; School of Psychology and Social Work; University of Hull
• Award Date: Oct 3, 2024