Compassion in healthcare : a narrative review of cross-cultural perspectives

Abstract

Background: Compassion is a critical component of effective, ethical healthcare, influencing patient care, provider well-being, and organizational culture. Its expression and support vary across cultures, yet little is known about how systemic and cultural factors shape compassionate care. This narrative review examines compassion’s impact on healthcare practices across cultural contexts. Methods: A narrative review of literature published since 2020, searching PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science was performed. Fifteen studies met our inclusion criteria: peer-reviewed, English-language articles that explicitly examined compassion (or closely related constructs such as self-compassion or compassion fatigue) in healthcare settings and reported empirical, theoretical, or review evidence with attention to cultural or contextual factors. Excluded were articles published before 2020, non-English reports, conference abstracts, and opinion pieces lacking empirical or theoretical contribution. Results: Compassion-focused interventions reduced fatigue and improved self-compassion and satisfaction. Cultural and systemic factors influenced how compassion was understood and applied, from Buddhist-informed to Western models. Institutional culture, leadership, workload, and spiritual care affected practice, while mental health and community care showed benefits but faced systemic barriers. Conclusion: Compassion in healthcare is shaped by individual, cultural, organizational, and systemic factors. Embedding compassion across all these levels is essential for delivering effective, person-centered care. This review contributes by synthesizing recent cross-cultural evidence, highlighting how cultural, structural, and spiritual dimensions influence compassionate care, and identifying gaps in global research. Cross-cultural awareness and structural reform are critical for sustaining compassionate healthcare. Future research should explore underrepresented cultural contexts and evaluate systemic interventions that promote compassion in diverse health systems.