Understanding the role of positive emotions in healthcare communication - A realist review.
Lena Günterberg Heyn, Stine Torp Løkkeberg, Lee Ellington and 2 others
PMID 36611271WHAT IT FOUND
Patients described feeling safe and less alone when providers were present and accessible.
They judged genuineness mainly from non-verbal behaviours such as touch, eye contact and smiling. Providers' positive outlook was described as giving hope and reassurance. These are reported experiences, not tested outcomes.
Key findings
01Patients described feeling safe and less alone when providers were present and accessible.
02Patients judged provider genuineness mainly from non-verbal behaviours such as physical touch, eye contact and smiling.
03A provider's positive outlook was described as giving patients hope, inspiration and emotional support.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most included studies were qualitative and had few participants, so they describe patient experiences rather than measure whether communication changes outcomes. The review had few controlled or longitudinal studies, so longer-term effects are unclear. Positive emotions, positive behaviours and outcomes were defined inconsistently across papers. The papers were mainly from European or North American settings, so they may not fit other health systems. The review excluded humour and psychotherapy, so it does not cover all positive communication contexts.
Declared interests
The authors reported no funding and no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that positive emotional communication improves patient outcomes. Most included studies were qualitative and descriptive, so they report patient experiences and themes, not tested effects. The review also had few controlled or longitudinal studies.