What Compassion Sounds Like: Scientists Record Patient Interactions

What does compassion sound like? That's a good question, and researchers may now have the answer. They've systematically pinpointed and catalogued compassionate words and actions in doctor-patient conversations. By breaking down the dialogue and studying the context, the scientists hope to create a behavioral taxonomy that will guide medical training and education.

In order to examine compassion in doctor-patient interactions, the researchers recruited 23 oncologists from a variety of private and hospital-based oncology clinics. The doctors and the patients volunteered to be recorded during routine visits. The scientists then analyzed the 49 audio-recorded encounters that took place and looked for observable markers of compassion.

In contrast to empathy, compassion involves a deeper and more active imagination of the patient's condition. Because of this, the scientists had to identify examples of the three main elements of compassion: recognition of suffering, emotional resonance and movement toward addressing suffering. The researchers evaluated tone of voice, animation that conveyed tenderness and understanding and other actions.

Not all of the communication was verbal, either. The researchers also found non-verbal communication, such as pauses or sighs at appropriate times. They also examined speech features and voice quality (such as tone, pitch and loudness) and other metaphorical language that conveyed certain attitudes and meaning.

In the end, the researchers found that compassion unfolds over time. During the process, physicians must challenge themselves to stay with a difficult discussion, which opens the door for the patient to admit uncertainty and grieve the loss of normalcy in life.

"It became apparent that compassion is not a quality of a single utterance but rather is made up of presence and engagement that suffuses an entire conversation," wrote the researchers in a news release.

The findings could help doctors give better patient care. In addition, it reveals how compassion can play a role in treatment of patients with cancer.

The findings are published in the journal Health Expectations.