title: The International Charter for Human Values in Healthcare: an interprofessional global collaboration to enhance values and communication in healthcare.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The human dimensions of healthcare--core values and skilled communication necessary for every healthcare interaction--are fundamental to compassionate, ethical, and safe relationship-centered care. The objectives of this paper are to: describe the development of the International Charter for Human Values in Healthcare which delineates core values, articulate the role of skilled communication in enacting these values, and provide examples showing translation of the Charter's values into action.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe development of the Charter using combined qualitative research methods and the international, interprofessional collaboration of institutions and individuals worldwide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified five fundamental categories of human values for every healthcare interaction--Compassion, Respect for Persons, Commitment to Integrity and Ethical Practice, Commitment to Excellence, and Justice in Healthcare--and delineated subvalues within each category. We have disseminated the Charter internationally and incorporated it into education/training. Diverse healthcare partners have joined in this work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We chronicle the development and dissemination of the International Charter for Human Values in Healthcare, the role of skilled communication in demonstrating values, and provide examples of educational and clinical programs integrating these values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Charter identifies and promotes core values clinicians and educators can demonstrate through skilled communication and use to advance humanistic educational programs and practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Institute for Professionalism & Ethical Practice, and Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA; International Research Centre for Communication in Healthcare, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK and University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: elizabeth_rider@hms.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rider
authors.affiliation: International Research Centre for Communication in Healthcare, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK and University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, USA; University of Calgary (Professor Emerita), AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.affiliation: International Research Centre for Communication in Healthcare, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK and University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of English, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slade
authors.affiliation: International Research Centre for Communication in Healthcare, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK and University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton, Milton, USA.
authors.forename: H Esterbrook
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Longmaid
authors.affiliation: International Research Centre for Communication in Healthcare, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK and University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Social Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: International Research Centre for Communication in Healthcare, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK and University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Education, St Antony's College, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Jack Kwok-hung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pun
authors.affiliation: International Research Centre for Communication in Healthcare, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK and University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eggins
authors.affiliation: International Research Centre for Communication in Healthcare, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK and University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA.
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Branch
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012945:Social Values
keywords: Communication skills; Compassion; Healthcare education; Human dimensions of care; International Charter for Human Values in Healthcare; Medical ethics; Physician-patient relationship; Professionalism; Relationship-centered care; Values