Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41052935›Full record

ArticleJournal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM2025

Safeguarding Compassion in Virtual Family Physician Care.

Bridget L Ryan, Judith Belle Brown, Thomas R Freeman, Madelyn DaSilva, Moira Stewart, Amanda L Terry

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Bridget L RyanFrom the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University (BLR, JBB, TRF, MD, MS, ALT); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University(BLR, MS, ALT). bryan@uwo.ca.
Judith Belle BrownFrom the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University (BLR, JBB, TRF, MD, MS, ALT); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University(BLR, MS, ALT).
Thomas R FreemanFrom the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University (BLR, JBB, TRF, MD, MS, ALT); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University(BLR, MS, ALT).
Madelyn DaSilvaFrom the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University (BLR, JBB, TRF, MD, MS, ALT); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University(BLR, MS, ALT).
Moira StewartFrom the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University (BLR, JBB, TRF, MD, MS, ALT); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University(BLR, MS, ALT).
Amanda L TerryFrom the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University (BLR, JBB, TRF, MD, MS, ALT); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University(BLR, MS, ALT).

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFollowing the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of virtual family medicine care is evolving. It can be tempting to consider only the technological aspects of virtual care; we argue we must attend to compassion's essential role in virtual family medicine care. This research aimed to understand the components contributing to compassionate family medicine virtual care and how these were demonstrated.

methodsWe conducted a qualitative Constructivist Grounded Theory study with 2 components; individual interviews with patients and family physicians (FP), and Collaborative Discussions, informed by the interviews, that brought patients and FPs together. Data collection and analysis were iterative using a constant comparative analysis.

resultsWe recruited nineteen patient and fourteen FP participants for the first component and 6 patient and 4 FP participants for the second. We identified 4 themes: Conveying virtual compassion through actions; External factors affecting virtual compassion; Virtual visits extending compassionate care; and Role of the patient-FP relationship. These themes can be characterized as a stance that FPs assume in their practice of virtual care. DISCUSSION: We highlight 4 themes important to the delivery of compassionate virtual care. We provide specific actions FPs may consider in delivering virtual care. Offering virtual visits was viewed as a compassionate bridge between in-person visits.

conclusionOur findings support that it is possible to convey compassion in virtual visits including telephone interactions. As virtual care evolves, our findings can support patients and family physicians to safeguard compassion so that it remains a hallmark of care for all modes of delivery.

Indexed as

COVID-19EmpathyFamily PracticePhysicians, FamilyTelemedicineAdultAgedFemaleGrounded TheoryHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsPhysician-Patient RelationsQualitative ResearchChronic DiseaseDoctor-Patient RelationsEmpathyFamily MedicineFamily PhysiciansGrounded TheoryMultimorbidityPatient-Centered CarePrimary Health CareQualitative ResearchTechnologyVirtual Systems

Identifiers

PMID41052935
PMCPMC12978590

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.