Self-Compassion and its Relationship with Patient Care Practices among Nurses
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: The healthcare industry continuously explores factors that contribute to the effective delivery of patient-centered care amidst global concerns about healthcare worker shortages and maintaining a healthy workforce. Self-compassion has been recognized as a significant factor that enhances empathy, reduces professional burnout, and improves the quality of life in healthcare settings.
Objective: This study aims to examine the influence of self-compassion on patient care practices among nurses, considering demographic variables such as age, marital status, and work experience to identify actionable factors that enhance care quality.
Methods: A cross-sectional correlational survey was employed, involving 403 female nurses from various hospitals in Islamabad and Faisalabad, aged between 20 and 55 years. The Self-Compassion Scale (Urdu version) and the Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 (Urdu version) were used to measure self-compassion and patient care practices, respectively. Demographic data were collected through a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis included regression, t-tests, and ANOVA, conducted using SPSS version 25.0, to assess relationships and group differences based on the collected data.
Results: Self-compassion explained 23% of the variance in patient care practices (F = 119.09, p < .01). Nurses with more than 10 years of experience demonstrated better patient care practices compared to those with less experience. Unmarried nurses showed higher levels of self-compassion and better patient care practices compared to their married counterparts.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the positive relationship between self-compassion and patient care practices, suggesting that enhancing self-compassion among nurses can lead to improved healthcare delivery. Promoting self-compassion training and practices in healthcare settings could enhance professional development, increase resilience, and subsequently improve patient outcomes.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Modic MB, Siedlecki SL, Griffin MTQ, Fitzpatrick JJ. Caring Behaviors: Perceptions of Acute Care Nurses and Hospitalized Patients with Diabetes. J Patient Exp. 2014 May;1(1):26-30.
Kruk ME, Chukwuma A, Mbaruku G, Leslie HH. Variation in Quality of Primary-Care Services in Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania. Bull World Health Organ. 2017.
Rehan A, Kanji ZJ, Raza R. Perceptions of Patients Regarding Quality Nursing Care at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. J Clin Res Bioeth. 2015;6(6).
Hofmeyer A, Taylor R, Kennedy K. Knowledge for Nurses to Better Care for Themselves so They Can Better Care for Others during the Covid-19 Pandemic and Beyond. Nurse Educ Today. 2020;94:104394.
Hegney DG, Rees CS, Osseiran-Moisson R, Breen L, Eley R, Windsor C, et al. Perceptions of Nursing Workloads and Contributing Factors, and Their Impact on Implicit Care Rationing: A Queensland, Australia Study. J Nurs Manag. 2018 Sep;27(2):371-80.
Duarte J, Pinto-Gouveia J, Cruz B. Relationships Between Nurses’ Empathy, Self-Compassion, and Dimensions of Professional Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Nurs Stud. 2016 Aug;60:1-11.
Mills J, Wand T, Fraser JA. On Self-Compassion and Self-Care in Nursing: Selfish or Essential for Compassionate Care? Int J Nurs Stud. 2015 Apr;52(4):791-3.
Trumello C, Bramanti SM, Ballarotto G, Candelori C, Cerniglia L, Cimino S, et al. Psychological Adjustment of Healthcare Workers in Italy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Differences in Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Burnout, Secondary Trauma, and Compassion Satisfaction Between Frontline and Non-Frontline Professionals. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov;17(22):8358.
Lluch-Sanz C, Galiana L, Vidal-Blanco G, Sansó N. Psychometric Properties of the Self-Compassion Scale—Short Form: Study of Its Role as a Protector of Spanish Nurses Professional Quality of Life and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nurs Rep. 2022 Feb;12(1):65-76.
Montero-Marin J, Zubiaga F, Cereceda M, Marcos Piva Demarzo M, Trenc P, Garcia-Campayo J. Correction: Burnout Subtypes and Absence of Self-Compassion in Primary Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One. 2020 Apr;15(4).
Neff KD, Knox MC. Self-Compassion. Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. 2017;1-8.
Di Fabio A, Saklofske DH. The Relationship of Compassion and Self-Compassion with Personality and Emotional Intelligence. Pers Individ Dif. 2020 May;169:110109.
Neff K. The Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Self-Compassion. Self Identity. 2003 Jul;2(3):223-50.
Imtiaz S. Self-Compassion, Rumination, Optimism, and Well-Being Among Elderly Adults. National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan; 2012.
Wu Y, Larrabee JH, Putman HP. Caring Behaviors Inventory—Short Form. PsycTESTS Dataset. 2006 Jan.
Abdullah S, Kousar R, Azhar M, Waqas A, Gilani S. Nurses’ and Patients’ Perception Regarding Nurse Caring Behaviors and Patients Satisfaction in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Int Ann Med. 2017 May;1(5).
Biber DD. Benefits of Mindful Self-Compassion for Frontline Nurses. Nurs. 2022 May;52(5):34-7.
Yang Q, Shi M, Zeng L, Xu P. University Freshmen’s Excessive Smartphone Use and Psychological Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Oct;13.
Johnson AH, Wilson J, Magner D, Urban RW, Martin S, Zhang Y. Exploring Meditation Profiles and Predictors in Nursing Students. J Holist Nurs. 2022 May;41(2):142-54.
Dehghannezhad J, Zamanzadeh V, Gilani N, Rahmani A, Dadashzadeh A. Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue Among Emergency Medical Technicians in Iran. Australas J Paramed. 2020 May;17.
Kanyanta MM, Makukula MK, Wahila R. Prevalence and Social Demographic Factors Associated with Secondary Traumatic Stress, Burnout and Compassion Satisfaction Among Nurses at Selected Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. J Biosci Med. 2023;11(2):86-104.
Labrague LJ, Ballad CA, Fronda DC. Predictors and Outcomes of Work–Family Conflict Among Nurses. Int Nurs Rev. 2020 Nov;68(3):349-57.
Halabi JO, Nilsson J, Lepp M. Professional Competence Among Registered Nurses Working in Hospitals in Saudi Arabia and Their Experiences of Quality of Nursing Care and Patient Safety. J Transcult Nurs. 2021 Feb;32(4):425-33.ferences