Final answer:
Compassionate care or caring is an approach in healthcare that focuses on the emotional, psychological, and physical well-being of the patient. It involves understanding and meeting the individual needs, preferences, and values of the patient.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compassionate care (also known as person-centred care) or caring is an approach in healthcare that focuses on the emotional, psychological, and physical well-being of the patient. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and meeting the individual needs, preferences, and values of the patient. This approach involves treating the patient with kindness, empathy, and respect, and involving them in the decision-making process.
For example, instead of just treating the symptoms of a medical condition, a healthcare provider practicing compassionate care would also take into account the patient's feelings, fears, and beliefs. They would listen to the patient's concerns, provide emotional support, and involve them in decisions about their treatment.
Compassionate care is based on the belief that the quality of care is not just determined by medical interventions, but also by the way patients are treated and how their emotional and psychological needs are addressed.