Patient and Provider Experiences With Compassionate Care in Virtual Physiatry: Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Telemedicine facilitates remote rehabilitation services via various communication technologies.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual care, necessitating an examination of compassion within this modality.
• Exploring the intersection of compassion and telemedicine is crucial for understanding modern healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate physiatrists' and patients' perspectives on compassionate care within telemedicine settings.
• To understand how virtual care influences the delivery and reception of compassionate rehabilitation services.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative descriptive study was conducted involving interviews with physiatrists and patients.
• Participants were recruited across Canada using social media and professional networks.
• Thematic analysis was employed to analyze interview data.

Main Results:

• Two primary themes emerged: compassionate care originates from provider intentions and manifests as behaviors, and virtual elements affect its delivery and reception.
• Physiatrists' and patients' experiences revealed that inner intentions drive caring behaviors in virtual rehabilitation.
• The study identified that virtual care modalities present both positive and negative influences on compassionate care dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Compassionate care in telemedicine is rooted in physiatrists' attitudes and behaviors, fostering individualized care and patient safety.
• Virtual care's impact on compassion is multifaceted, with both benefits and drawbacks noted.
• Ambiguity exists regarding virtual care norms, yet its flexibility and person-centeredness offer significant utility in healthcare.