As diabetes educators, we may find we spend a great deal of time listening to people’s life situation, empathizing and affirming their experience. This time is well spent and has a tremendous impact on our interactions with people living with diabetes. A recent study highlights how compassion plays a significant role in our clinical practice.

According to a HealthTap survey, patients and physicians alike rate the role of compassion as most important.

Below are the fours findings from the HealthTap Survey:

“1. When making a healthcare decision, 85 percent of patients said compassion was very important to them, while only 31 percent of patients said cost was very important.

2. Although wait time to see a medical provider is often considered a barrier to patients’ happiness, only 48 percent of patients cited it as a very important factor in healthcare satisfaction.

3. Eighty-nine percent of physicians cited compassion as a very important part of delivering the best care, which was higher than the importance physicians placed on education and command of medical knowledge (86 percent).

4. Nearly all — 94 percent — of physicians said being compassionate makes their patients more likely to follow their advice, which can significantly improve health outcomes.”

To learn more about compassion and healthcare read: “85% of patients value compassion over cost in healthcare: 4 findings” – Becker’s Hospital Review

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