Rekindling Joy in Medicine Through Thoughtful Communication: A Practical Guide.

Joy in medicine, or the loss of it, is a popular topic of conversation, even more so since the pandemic. Burnout in oncology is common and diminishes the satisfaction of practicing medicine. One of the challenges clinicians face is the way in which modern clinical practice takes us away from what we find most meaningful in our work: time with patients. Strategies like being kind, expressing gratitude, and using effective communication skills can establish more connection with our colleagues and our patients, and, in turn, result in a more joyful work environment. Creating space for more moments of feeling deep interconnectedness with patients and colleagues can rekindle feelings of joy in oncology practice. This article reviews the concepts of joy in medicine, the term sacred moments, and outlines practical strategies and communication skills that are effective in enhancing the patient-provider relationship.

[1]  Lindsey E. Carlasare,et al.  Imposter Phenomenon in US Physicians Relative to the US Working Population. , 2022, Mayo Clinic proceedings.

[2]  Sara B. Algoe,et al.  Gratitude expressions improve teammates’ cardiovascular stress responses. , 2022, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

[3]  Klodiana Lanaj,et al.  Self‐Compassion at work: A self‐regulation perspective on its beneficial effects for work performance and wellbeing , 2022, Personnel Psychology.

[4]  D. Yagil,et al.  Burnout among oncologists and oncology nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. , 2022, Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association.

[5]  Yu Tse Heng,et al.  Self‐Compassion in Organizations: A Review and Future Research Agenda , 2021, Journal of Organizational Behavior.

[6]  I. Hickie,et al.  Effect of interventions for the well-being, satisfaction and flourishing of general practitioners—a systematic review , 2021, BMJ Open.

[7]  Inés López-Álvarez,et al.  Mindful Self‐Compassion program for chronic pain patients: A randomized controlled trial , 2021, European journal of pain.

[8]  C. Bellieni.  Nurses and Doctors Heroes? A Risky Myth of the COVID19 Era , 2020, Nursing reports.

[9]  Marissa C. Knox,et al.  Caring for others without losing yourself: An adaptation of the Mindful Self-Compassion Program for Healthcare Communities. , 2020, Journal of clinical psychology.

[10]  Lindsey E. Carlasare,et al.  Resilience and Burnout Among Physicians and the General US Working Population , 2020, JAMA network open.

[11]  M. Yates,et al.  Burnout in oncologists and associated factors: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. , 2019, European journal of cancer care.

[12]  Martin C Delaney.  Caring for the caregivers: Evaluation of the effect of an eight-week pilot mindful self-compassion (MSC) training program on nurses’ compassion fatigue and resilience , 2018, PloS one.

[13]  V. Montori,et al.  Eliciting the Patient’s Agenda- Secondary Analysis of Recorded Clinical Encounters , 2018, Journal of General Internal Medicine.

[14]  N. Consedine,et al.  Kindness Matters: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindful Self-Compassion Intervention Improves Depression, Distress, and HbA1c Among Patients With Diabetes , 2016, Diabetes Care.

[15]  Michael B. Rothberg,et al.  Communication Skills Training for Physicians Improves Patient Satisfaction , 2016, Journal of General Internal Medicine.

[16]  H. Chochinov,et al.  Eliciting Personhood Within Clinical Practice: Effects on Patients, Families, and Health Care Providers. , 2015, Journal of pain and symptom management.

[17]  Sheung-Tak Cheng,et al.  Improving mental health in health care practitioners: randomized controlled trial of a gratitude intervention. , 2015, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[18]  K. Kafetsios,et al.  Doctors’ Emotion Regulation and Patient Satisfaction: A Social-Functional Perspective , 2014, Health communication.

[19]  R. Frankel,et al.  An evidence-based patient-centered method makes the biopsychosocial model scientific. , 2013, Patient education and counseling.

[20]  L. Schapira.  The essential elements of a therapeutic presence , 2013, Cancer.

[21]  Thomas Bodenheimer,et al.  In Search of Joy in Practice: A Report of 23 High-Functioning Primary Care Practices , 2013, The Annals of Family Medicine.

[22]  H. Chochinov,et al.  Health Care Provider Communication , 2013, Cancer.

[23]  Ronald M Epstein,et al.  Association of an educational program in mindful communication with burnout, empathy, and attitudes among primary care physicians. , 2009, JAMA.

[24]  L. Fallowfield,et al.  Enduring impact of communication skills training: results of a 12-month follow-up , 2003, British Journal of Cancer.

[25]  W. Langewitz,et al.  Spontaneous talking time at start of consultation in outpatient clinic: cohort study , 2002, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[26]  W. Levinson,et al.  A study of patient clues and physician responses in primary care and surgical settings. , 2000, JAMA.

[27]  M K Marvel,et al.  Soliciting the patient's agenda: have we improved? , 1999, JAMA.

[28]  S. Carmel,et al.  Compassionate-empathic physicians: personality traits and social-organizational factors that enhance or inhibit this behavior pattern. , 1996, Social science & medicine.

[29]  R. Frankel,et al.  The effect of physician behavior on the collection of data. , 1984, Annals of internal medicine.