Patient suffering and caregiver compassion: new opportunities for research, practice, and policy.
The purpose of this article is to stimulate discussion and research about patient suffering and caregiver compassion. It is our view that these constructs are central to understanding phenomena such as family caregiving, and that recognizing their unique role in the caregiving experience provides new directions for intervention research, clinical practices, and social policy. We first define and characterize these constructs, review empirical evidence supporting the distinct role of suffering and compassion in the context of caregiving, and then present a conceptual model linking patient suffering with caregiver compassion. We conclude with a discussion of implications and future directions for clinical intervention, research, and policy.
Schulz
Richard
R
University Center for Social and Urban Research, 121 University Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. schulz@pitt.edu
Hebert
Randy S
RS
Dew
Mary Amanda
MA
Brown
Stephanie L
SL
Scheier
Michael F
MF
Beach
Scott R
SR
Czaja
Sara J
SJ
Martire
Lynn M
LM
Coon
David
D
Langa
Kenneth M
KM
Gitlin
Laura N
LN
Stevens
Alan B
AB
Nichols
Linda
L
D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D011364:Professional Practice; D011640:Public Policy; D012106:Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*