title: Measuring compassionate care: views of healthcare staff.
abstract: Aim To explore healthcare professionals' views of measuring compassionate care. Method As part of a grounded theory study participants, who were healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with type 2 diabetes, were invited to discuss the topic of compassionate care measurement through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Results Measuring compassionate care was regarded as problematic because of its complex nature. Categories identified in the data that reflect this difficulty include distinguishing compassionate care from other concepts, relying on informal indicators, making the subjective objective, incorporating external influences and putting a measurement tool to use. Conclusion Findings highlighted the complexities associated with measuring compassionate care, and how attempts to do this by managers could be problematic.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Nursing Research Institute, University of Warwick.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Nursing Research Institute, University of Warwick.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seers
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Nursing Research Institute, University of Warwick.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tutton
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans
keywords: compassionate care; focus groups; healthcare professionals; measurement; nursing management; qualitative research