Compassionate healthcare: an interpretive synthesis of evidence-based practice and care ethics theory

Background: Healthcare systems globally recognize compassion as essential to quality care, yet systematic approaches to understanding and implementing compassionate practice remain fragmented. This interpretive synthesis examines compassion through multiple theoretical lenses and synthesizes current evidence on measurement, implementation, and outcomes. Methods: This interpretive synthesis draws from care ethics theory, neuroscientific research, and implementation science to analyze compassionate healthcare practice. Literature from 2020-2025 was prioritized to capture current developments in theory and practice. Results: Care ethics frameworks provide robust theoretical foundations for compassionate practice, emphasizing relationality, responsiveness, and institutional accountability. Recent neuroscience research demonstrates measurable brain plasticity associated with compassion training. Validated measurement instruments enable systematic assessment, though cultural adaptation remains challenging. Implementation barriers include resource constraints, competing priorities, and organizational resistance. Conclusions: Compassionate healthcare requires integration of theoretical understanding, evidence-based practice, and systematic implementation approaches. Future research should address measurement standardization, cultural adaptation protocols, and sustainable implementation strategies.