Understanding Compassionate Care in Acute Psychiatric Settings: A Phenomenological Study From the Perspectives of Patients With Psychiatric Diagnoses.

Introduction: Despite the increasing body of research exploring the role of compassionate care in inpatient experiences and the growing emphasis on compassion as a key component of high-quality healthcare, a significant gap remains in understanding compassionate care from the perspectives of psychiatric patients. Furthermore, no studies have specifically examined this issue within the context of acute psychiatric settings in Türkiye.

Aim: This qualitative study aimed to explore psychiatric patients' perceptions and experiences of compassionate care.

Method: Fourteen phenomenological, semi-structured interviews were conducted with psychiatric patients between October 2024 and February 2025.

Results: The data were analysed using Colaizzi's seven-step descriptive analysis method, revealing five key themes: (Bond et al. 2022) Compassionate Care, (Bond et al. 2024) Non-Compassionate Care, (Brown et al. 2014) The Healing Power of Compassion, (Camenzuli-Chetcuti and Haslam 2021) Perceptions of Compassionate Care Barriers and (Creswell 2012) Suggestions for Improvement.

Discussion: As reported by participants, compassionate care primarily includes therapeutic communication skills and a responsive, attentive approach to patients' needs. In contrast, non-compassionate care is characterised by ineffective communication, as well as practices such as coercive treatment and the use of restraints. The findings suggest that compassionate care plays a crucial role in facilitating the recovery process of psychiatric patients. Absence of compassion, on the other hand, can prevent effective communication, exacerbate psychiatric symptoms, delay treatment adherence and ultimately worsen patient prognosis.

Implications for practice: Psychiatric nurses should be provided with continuous professional development opportunities designed to enhance their understanding of compassionate care and cultivate the skills necessary for effective delivery. Institutional leaders are also responsible for reducing patient-nurse ratios, monitoring for signs of compassion fatigue among psychiatric nurses, and implementing strategies for coping with and preventing compassion fatigue.