Conclusion of the Literature Review

The literature above has so far explained why communication is of importance in a healthcare set up. So far, the means through which communication aids healthcare has been discussed. From the above, it is clear that communication is one of the ways that can show empathy and kindness to patients. The importance of these two qualities to a patient and to the healthcare providers are worthy of consideration. 

One of the main importance is that it brings out better nurse-patient relationship, alongside better doctor-patient relationships. These relationship often create confidence with the patient. A confident patient is more likely to give accurate symptoms. In addition to that, doctors and nurses are able to communicate the purposes of their proposed treatments to patients better. The diagnosis of the patient becomes easier and more accurate when there is a good empathetic communication ground (Jones, 2008).

Apart from diagnosis, great interpersonal skills that are based on empathy and kindness also make the patients more willing to accept medical procedures (Grover, 2007). These procedures include blood tests and other tests. Additional procedures include surgery, dialysis among others. All these procedures are usually deemed helpful to the patient. However, in the healthcare centers, the consent of the patient is of most importance. These means that these procedures cannot be carried out unless the patient agrees. Great education of the patient prior to carrying out the procedure often makes it easier for the patients to consent to life saving procedures and tests. This consent is usually done more easily when the care giver is being kind to the patient.

Something to note from the above is that, there is an increasing use of technology in the healthcare. As such, the need to develop ways to make the patients feel valued even while they use the technology need to investigated. The literature review points out the many ways in which empathy and kindness are helping doctors and patients in the medical sector. However, there is a lack of information on the role that technology plays in building empathy and kindness, or whether empathy and kindness in the healthcare are being destroyed with improved technology.

One aspect of technology that could affect empathy and kindness is the use of various machines to keep records of patients at the hospital. Usually, these technologically advanced machines make it such that the patient is able to get all the data that they need in one place at the hospital. They make it easy to monitor the status of the patient especially if he or she is terminally or chronically ill. However, they have a downside. These machines rely so much on automatic and automated systems that they tend to minimize human contact. As such, it becomes impossible to detect or have empathy shown by a machine. Attempts to get the language to be friendly often lead to the machines being monotonous and repetitive as they do not have a human touch in them. This in my opinion, is something that needs to be researched on so better solutions can be identified.

Empathy and kindness have so far been seen to improve the way diagnosis and treatment is carried out. However, technology and research seem to play a bigger role and should not be overlooked, in addressing this research, the best way to look at it would be to determine ways in which both can be used in the healthcare centers to help the patients while being empathetic (Grover, 2007). This way, technology would be developed and the study of it would be incorporated into nurses’ courses to help them build empathy with the patients they serve

Potential research question

The above has raised the issue of technology and how it helps create or demolish empathy in the healthcare center. A good research question in this case would therefore be; how does technology affect the empathy of nurses, doctors and other health practitioners in general. In order to address this question, the general role of technology in research and healthcare would have to be established. One way in which technology helps healthcare is that it creates an environment where it is possible to get information easily from the computer or from the tablets.

The research would cover topics on areas such as how to help patients who require computer aided treatment while being empathetic and kind. It means understanding the reasons for the use and reliance of the patients on technology, how to help these patients understand the technology and the equipment they are using and how to save time and effort while using these equipment. The question of apps that help to track insulin levels for diabetic people would also be addressed. Apps are becoming important in the daily lives of people and are being used in healthcare. A discussion on the healthy ways to use them would be useful.

Finally, the ways in which the medical field and the nursing field are made to create empathy and kindness have been discussed. The importance of these two qualities is also clear from the above. The research question to be addressed has been developed and would likely help in the development of medicine further.