Improving Communication between Physicians and Their Patients through Mindfulness and Compassion-Based Strategies: A Narrative Review.
Alberto Amutio Kareaga, Javier García-campayo, Luis Carlos Delgado, Daniel Hermosilla, Cristina Martínez-Taboada
Journal of Clinical Medicine March 17, 2017 DOI: 10.3390/jcm6030033 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Communication Physician-patient relations Well-being Psychosocial support Mindfulness and compassion |
| Key findings | Argues that mindfulness and compassion-based strategies may improve physician-patient interactions and support physicians' self-care, awareness, and compassion while reducing distress and burnout, and that acquiring these skills requires continuous education. Calls for further research on the cost-effectiveness of such interventions. |
Abstract
Communication between physicians and patients is a key pillar of psychosocial support for enhancing the healing process of patients and for increasing their well-being and quality of life. Physicians and other health professionals might benefit from interventions that increase their self-care, awareness, compassion, and other-focused concern, and reduce the chances of distress and burnout. There is substantial evidence for the contribution of different management strategies to achieve these aims. The goal of this article is to review the potential effect of mindfulness and compassion-based strategies for the improvement of physician-patient interactions. The acquisition of the necessary skills by physicians requires continuous education. Future research will be useful for identifying more evidence on the cost-effectiveness of this type of intervention.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Shared meditation involving cancer patients, health professionals and third persons is relevant and improves well-being: IMPLIC pilot study BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies May 18, 2022
- A randomised study to evaluate the potential added value of shared meditation involving people with cancer, health professionals and third persons compared to meditation conducted with patients only: design of the Implic-2 protocol. BMC cancer September 4, 2024
- Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on Job Satisfaction and Psychological Distress of Care Workers for Older Adults. Workplace Health & Safety July 1, 2026
- Reperceiving depression: how trait mindfulness enhances perceived support through improved doctor–patient relationships and stigma alleviation in depressed young adults Frontiers in Psychology October 14, 2025
- The efficacy of compassion training programmes for healthcare professionals: a systematic review and meta-analysis Current Psychology January 25, 2024
and 3 more in the library
Cites 26
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
- Association of an Educational Program in Mindful Communication With Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes Among Primary Care Physicians JAMA September 22, 2009
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Professionals: Results From a Randomized Trial. International Journal of Stress Management May 1, 2005
and 21 more in the library