Can staff be supported to deliver compassionate care through implementing Schwartz Rounds in community and mental health services?

Farr, Michelle, Barker, Rhiannon (2017) Can staff be supported to deliver compassionate care through implementing Schwartz Rounds in community and mental health services? Qualitative Health Research, 11 (27). pp. 1652-1663. ISSN 1049-7323. (doi:10.1177/1049732317702101)

Abstract

Schwartz Rounds are evidence-based interdisciplinary discussions where health care staff can share experiences of the emotional and social aspects of care, to support improvements in patient care. Developed in acute services, they are now being implemented in various settings including U.K. community and mental health services where their implementation has not been researched. Realist evaluation was used to analyze three community and mental health case studies of Round implementation, involving Round observations (n = 5), staff interviews ( n = 22), and post-Round evaluation sheets (n = 206). Where Schwartz Rounds were successfully implemented and facilitated, the discussions enabled emotional resonance across interdisciplinary colleagues about caring experiences, enabling the recognition of a common humanity. Participants appreciated attending Rounds and saw they improved communications, trust, and openness with colleagues and enabled more compassionate care with patients. The wide geographical dispersal of staff and work pressures were challenges in attending Rounds, and strong leadership is needed to support their implementation.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1177/1049732317702101
Uncontrolled keywords:	England; Schwartz Rounds; compassion; mental health; organizational culture; realist evaluation; staff support
Subjects:	H Social Sciences H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions:	Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Social Policy Sociology and Social Research Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Social Policy Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User:	R.J. Barker
Date Deposited:	20 Oct 2017 15:29 UTC
Last Modified:	12 Jun 2019 09:33 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/64107 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)