The Art and Science of Compassionate Care: A Practical Guide

This book provides a practical guide on the art and science of compassionate care in an era of healthcare crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is inflicting long-lasting financial and psychosocial trauma on an unprecedented scale. A new approach to compassionate care is presented based on the overarching concepts of empathy, person and family centeredness, therapeutic relationship, kindness, gratitude, spirituality, communication skills, shared decision making, positive psychology, adversity-activated development, self-care, compassion fatigue, spirituality which are more than ever critical in successfully managing the pandemic adversity in front of us.

This book draws on clinical experience, educational activities and evidence-based knowledge from academic physicians (primary, secondary and tertiary care), nurses,psychologists, health economists, healthcare managers, health policymakers, medical professionals students and patients. It provides skills and knowledge that can be implemented in daily clinical practice based on all levels of healthcare on a whole-person approach. An array of clinical cases, patient journeys, published evidence and practical experience is combined to deliver in a practical way unique guidance and advice. The target audience is all healthcare professionals, health policymakers, healthcare managers and patient associations. This approach of Compassionate Care is of great importance and can save lives and money in these unprecedented times of global healthcare care system challenges.

Andreas Samoutis BSc (Hons), MBBS, is a medical student at the University College London (UCL) and a scientific committee member of the International Institute for Compassionate Care (IICC) with research in the field of medical education, compassionate care and orthopaedics. Andreas is the founder and host of the Med Conceptions Podcast (https://linktr.ee/MedConceptions), a podcast from influential experts on leading a healthy and mindful life. He is also co-founder of Gratitude Innovations (www.gradis.org) which is involved in the development of an e-shop offering innovative, person-centred, evidence-based, cost-effective, high-quality nutraceuticals and other health products. 

Prof George Samoutis MD, PhD, CCT (UK), PGCertHBE (UK) is a founder and chairman of the International Institute for Compassionate Care (IICC), professor of Primary Care at the University of Nicosia Medical School (member of the champions team that founded the medical school) and Honorary at the St George’s University of London Medical School. Prof George Samoutis is the founder and medical director of the Apostolos Loukas Medical Centre which serves approx 20,000 patients in Nicosia, Cyprus. He served as the Medical Head at Novartis Pharma Services and Cyprus National Health Insurance organization. He is serving now as a volunteer scientist on the Cyprus Patients Scientific Committee and the Medical Advisory Committee of the Cyprus NHS. His main research interest lies in General Practice, Primary Care, Clinical Quality Management, Compassionate Care, medical education and the use of technology in Healthcare. 

Dr Neophytos Stylianou (PhD, MPH) is the Director of the IICC and visiting researcher of the Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Improvement (CHI2), School of Management, University of Bath. Neophytos has a PhD from the University of Manchester on Health Service Research/Epidemiology/Public Health. His main research interest lies in using data for the improvement of health services, focusing on clinical epidemiology, prediction modelling and health policy evaluation. 

Dr Andreas Anastasiou earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He has worked as a psychologist in several settings in the United States including a Veteran’s Affairs hospital, counseling centers, and state agencies. As Associate Professor at Mary Baldwin University in Virginia, USA, he served as chair of the psychology department for four years. He repatriated to Cyprus six years ago and, since then, has been an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Nicosia, where he also served as Chair of the Social Sciences Department. He has served as Board member of the Cyprus Psychological Association. In addition, Andreas maintains a private practice in counseling psychology. His research focuses on gender differences in the communication of empathy, conflict resolution, and multicultural issues. Andreas is a member of the editorial board of the journal for Compassionate Care.

Christos Lionis MD PhD FRCGP(Hon) FESC FWONCA. Christos Lionis is a medical doctor and Professor with a strong interest in primary care and public health education, practice, and research. Christos has served the Clinic of Social and Family Medicine (CSFM) at the School of Medicine, University of Crete (http://www.fammed.uoc.gr/Joomla/) since 1995 (March) as a Professor of General Practice and Primary Health Care and CFSM Director until August 2022. He is also appointed as Guest Professor of General Practice in the Institute of Health and Medicine at the University of Linkoping, Sweden (2018), a position that he continues to hold today. As part of his work with the CFSM, Christos has been involved both as PI and collaborator in multiple large European and international research collaboratives and research proposals funded by the EU and international agencies. His work has focused on capacity building of primary health care and public health in Greece and internationally. Christos has a passion for education and has a played a key role in the development medical training, continuing medical education, and quality standards in primary care and public health nationally. He has developed a strong collaboration with WHO especially during the past two years. Christos is also involved in an editorial and advisory capacity with a number of international journals. He also is a member of the Executive Board of various professional organisations including that of WONCA Working Party on Mental Health where he is currently elected as Chair. He has been awarded as Honorary Fellow for the Royal College of General Practitioners (2009), the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (WONCA) (2016) and the European Society of Cardiology (2017). Christos has published 432 papers in international journals that they cited in PubMed. Since 2019, Christos is a member of the European Commission Expert Panel on Effective Ways of Investing in Health and the Specific Advisory Group of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).