Aim: To identify and assess the state of knowledge regarding compassion-based interventions and outcomes, targeted to the organisational level, that aim to improve health professionals' well-being.
Design: Systematic review.
Data sources: Using the PICO model, the clinical question and search strategy were structured. The searches were performed on 20 September 2022 and 26 December 2023 in the Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global databases. Content analysis was applied to analyse data, and the PRISMA and SWiM guidelines were followed for reporting.
Results: Thirty-eight studies, mostly from the United Kingdom and the United States, met the inclusion criteria and were quality assessed and analysed. Compassion-based interventions that target the organisational level are quite new, thus representing a burgeoning initiative. In this review, many included quantitative studies revealed significant methodological challenges in effectively measuring organisational compassion (interpersonal relationships, organisational culture and retention/turnover). However, the review findings overall indicate that interpersonal connections between colleagues that foster a sense of community, through shared experiences, mindfulness and (self-)compassion practices and social activities, may be a protective factor for well-being. Further, the review emphasises the crucial role of management support in catalysing organisational changes to improve health professionals' well-being.
Conclusion: Evidence strongly suggests that fostering human interconnectedness among health professionals is associated with enhanced well-being. Further rigorous studies are needed to validate these findings, clarify the organisational cultural aspects of compassion and develop an effective outcome measurement tool for organisational compassion.
Practice implications: Organisational compassion-based interventions may help foster a culture of compassion within organisations, enhance health professionals' capacity for compassion and benefit both their well-being and the quality of care provided to patients and relatives.
Patient contributions: This review is part of a larger project about compassion and includes two patient representatives (mothers of children with cancer) in the research team.
Keywords: burnout; care; compassion; occupational health; staff development; systematic reviews and meta‐analyses; work organisation.
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.