Translating theory into clinical practice: a qualitative study of clinician perspectives implementing whole person care

Abstract

Whole Person Care (WPC) is an emerging framework that emphasises the clinician’s role in empowering patient healing. However, reliably translating a framework’s theory into practice is a recognised challenge for clinicians. Observational studies have revealed discrepancies between a clinician’s stated values in theory and how these may be implemented in practice. The aim of this qualitative study is to bridge the gap between the theory of WPC and its practical implementation by clinicians. We interviewed a diverse group of 34 clinicians attending the 2017 International Whole Person Care Congress to explore (1) their conceptions of WPC in theory as well as (2) how they monitor their practice in real time. Data were analysed using Grounded Theory Methodology. Preliminary results were presented in the form of a workshop at the 2019 International Whole Person Care Congress to validate our findings with relevant stakeholders. The results revealed a vision of WPC that highlighted themes of the clinician’s way of being, seeing the person beyond the disease, and the clinician–patient relationship. Our results demonstrate that clinicians use a range of strategies to monitor their practice in real time. Mindfulness and self-awareness were frequently cited as being crucial to this ability of self-regulating their practice. This study helps establish a unifying framework of WPC based on a diverse range of clinician-reported experiences. More importantly, it sheds light on the range of strategies employed by clinicians who monitor their practice in real time. These collected insights will be of interest to any clinician interested in translating their stated values into their clinical practice more reliably.