Mindfulness and compassion training for health professionals: a qualitative study

Objectives: Compassion is a key component of quality care. Therefore, encouraging health professionals (HCPs) to develop a patient-centred care relationship through mindfulness and compassion training may be beneficial for both patients and HCPs. We aimed at assessing the impact of a compassion-centred mindfulness program (i.e., the Mindfulness Based (MB) CARE programme) on healthcare practice. We hypothesised this training could improve patient–health professionals relationships and perceived quality of life at work of HCPs. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study including 10 phone interviews designed to explore the perceived psychological consequences of such training programme amongst HCPs who experienced the MB CARE programme at APHP Sorbonne University or during a private course. Interviews were conducted between May and July 2020. Results: Content analysis results showed that the training had an overall positive impact on the HCPs ability to feel compassion toward their patients and themselves. The HCPs were more attentive to their patient’s needs and theirs, without being able to articulate how well they were paying attention to them. The programme also helped them develop kindness towards themselves and their patients. Participants were better able to accept the difficult experiences they might encounter in the workplace or those their patients experienced, with more perceived equanimity and less reactivity.Conclusions: We conclude that professional mindfulness and compassion training programmes could be operational levers for institutions aiming at fostering a more compassionate health professionals–patient relationship, through improvement of perceived quality of life at work, more focused attention and better management of emotions