Compassion: A core competency, not simply an 'optional extra'

Compassion isn't just a virtue, a feeling, or an ‘optional extra’—it's a catalyst for better patient outcomes, higher care ratings, and improved provider wellbeing. Yet, supporting and nurturing compassion among healthcare professionals has faced significant challenges: unclear conceptual frameworks, insufficient coverage across domains of compassion, a lack of validated assessment tools, and a precarious evidence base.

The EnACT Curriculum: Compassion Training Powered by Science and Clinical Practice

Enter EnACT—the Evidence-informed, competency-based, Applied, Compassion Training program. Designed specifically for healthcare providers across diverse clinical settings, EnACT aims to bridge these gaps. Our recent open access publication describes the development of the EnACT program and presents the results of our initial validation study. The result--EnACT promises to revolutionize compassion training by equipping learners with clinically relevant tools and by creating the organizational conditions for compassion to flourish.

EnACT Results: Increased Compassion Competence and Practice Change

In our initial validation study involving healthcare provider learners in acute care and hospice settings, EnACT showed promising results. Pre- and post-training assessments revealed significant improvements in learner’s compassion competence, alongside heightened professional fulfillment and reduced burnout levels. Qualitative insights underscored the program's impact on learners' attitudes, practice integration, and recommendations for future enhancements.

Conclusion and Next Steps

These findings suggest that EnACT is not just feasible but effective in bolstering healthcare providers’ innate compassion. With its patient-centered curriculum, interactive learning tools, and tailored approach, EnACT holds potential to foster enduring changes in clinical practice. As the program moves forward into a Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial (RCfT), its impact on healthcare culture and patient care outcomes will be further evaluated, promising even greater insights and advancements in compassionate healthcare delivery.

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