Integrative review reveals core dimensions of healthcare professional compassion in end-of-life care, highlighting its role in uniting evidence-based practice with human-centered care.
Key Points
To synthesize and examine healthcare professionals' compassion when providing care for patients nearing the end of life.
Conducted an integrative review across CINAHL, Scopus, and PubMed databases, identifying and including 12 studies.
Evaluated the methodological quality of included qualitative studies using the Critical Skills Appraisal Programme (CASP) tool.
Identified one overarching thematic domain: 'Embracing the patient at the end of life.'
Categorized compassionate practice into three distinct categories: 'Being with the patient in the present moment', 'Being in a caring communion', and 'Being available and attuned to the patient.'