On this page you can find a range of resources to help you reflect more on the role of kindness in healthcare.
Kindness: a reading list
The resources listed here include research and commentary articles, books, courses and more on kindness.
Download our detailed reading list.
Measuring kindness
In order to measure something, we first need to define it, but kindness is subjective and difficult to define. The following articles centre on developing tools and methods to measure kindness.
- Anderson, Simon and Brownlie Julie Getting the measure of kindness: a guide for organisations
- Austin B. Hake and Stephen G. Post Kindness: definitions and a pilot study for the development of a kindness scale in healthcare
- Couris, John D. Driving health care results with authenticity, kindness, and vulnerability: a new model of authentic leadership
Research behind kindness
If you would like to read a bit more about the evidence behind kindness and studies conducted on kindness, give the following articles a read:
- Bradshaw, Jane; Siddiqui, Nazlee; Greenfield, David; and Sharma, Anita Kindness, listening, and connection: patient and clinician key requirements for emotional support in chronic and complex care
- Curry, O. S., Rowland, L. A., Van Lissa, C. J., Zlotowitz, S., McAlaney, J., & Whitehouse, H.
Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 76, 320-329. (2018) - Landry, Shannon; Bisson, Kathy; Cook, Colleen; and Morrison, Linda How a culture of kindness can improve employee engagement and patient experience – and five ways to get there
Nursing Leadership 2018; 31 (3): 42-47 (September 2018) - Maré, Jeannette Kindness in hospitals: a mixed-methods reasoned action approach to understanding prosocial communication in healthcare
- Thurman Ben Leading with kindness: a report on the learning from the Kindness Leadership Network
Commentary articles on kindness
The following articles comment on kindness, the current challenges faced, and what we can do moving forwards. This includes promoting kindness in leadership.
- Allwood, Dominique; Koka, Sreenivas; Armbruster, Ryan; and Montori, Victor Leadership for careful and kind care
- Allwood, Dominique and Montori, Victor Careful, kind care is our compass out of the pandemic fog
- Berry Leonard L, Danaher Tracey S., Chapman Robert A. and, Awdish Rana L. A. Role of kindness in cancer care
- Biggar, Susan; Fletcher, Martin; Van Der Gaag, Anna; and Austin, Zubin Finding space for kindness: public protection and health professional regulation
- Faust, H. S. Kindness, Not Compassion, in Healthcare Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 18, 287-299, 2009
- Ferguson Zoe Kinder communities: the power of everyday relationships
- Fryburg, David A. Kindness isn’t just about being nice: the value proposition of kindness as viewed through the lens of incivility in the healthcare workplace
- Gage, William Understanding the importance of kindness in nursing practice Nursing Standard 2023; 38 (1): 27-34 (4 January 2023)
- Klaber, R. E. and Bailey, Suzie Kindness: an underrated currency
- Unwin Julia Kindness, emotions and human relationships: the blind spot in public policy
Books on kindness
If you would like to read books on kindness, the following list includes a range of books on kindness in leadership, healthcare and kindness in the politics of a global world.
Books on kindness in healthcare
- Ballatt, John and Campling, Penelope Intelligent kindness: reforming the culture of healthcare London: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2011
- Marshall-Andrews, Laura What seems to be the problem? A doctor’s story about courage, compassion, and a new way to care London: HQ, 2022
- Thurman, Ben The courage to be kind: reflecting on the role of kindness in the healthcare response to Covid-19
- Trzeciak Stephen and Mazzarelli Anthony Compassionomics: the revolutionary scientific evidence that caring makes a difference Studer Gr, 2019
- Watson, Christine The language of kindness: a nurse’s story London: Chatto & Windus, 2018
Books on kindness in leadership
- Haskins, Gay, Thomas, Michael and Johri Lalit Kindness in leadership London: Routledge, 2018
Books on human nature and kindness in building and shaping the future of society
- Ballatt, John; Campling, Penelope and Maloney, Chris Intelligent kindness: rehabilitating the welfare state Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020
- Bregman, R. Humankind: A hopeful history Bloomsbury publishing, 2020
- Phillips, A., & Taylor, B. On kindness Macmillan, 2009
- Zaki, J. The war for kindness: Building empathy in a fractured world Robinson 2021
Conversations, podcasts, webinars and blogs
If you would like to hear and learn even more about kindness, check out the following resources.
- Bob Klaber on kindness as the essence of care in the UK
- Bob Klaber, Goran Henriks and Anette Nilsson mircosystem festival re-kindling vlog
- BMJ podcast: Life support – being a compassionate colleague (Clara Munro, Ayisha Ashmore, Michael West and Bob Klaber)
- Being Better Together podcast: Learning From Excellence – Bob Klaber on kindness in healthcare
- Carnegie UK Trust Courage to be Kind podcast
- BBC Radio 4 Four Thought: Intelligent Kindness in Healthcare
- Whose Shoes: Bob Klaber – kindness matters
- Civility Saves Lives podcast
Blogs
- The healing power of kindness (Lloyd Dean and James Doty)
- Kindness in healthcare: why it matters and why BMJ Leader will focus on it (Bob Klaber, James Mountford, Dominique Allwood)
- Gathering of kindness and the arts changing healthcare culture (Lucy Mayes)
- Kindness and connection is a key part of addressing the workforce crisis (David Jones, Kaleidoscope Health and Care)
- Making the case for kindness (Dan Grimes)
- Blown away by kindness (Dr Camilla Kingdon, RCPCH)
Our friends
These are some of the organisations that we work with or are inspired by.
- Carnegie UK – Carnegie’s purpose is better wellbeing for people in the UK and Ireland.
- Envision Kindness – aims to promote and inspire kindness, compassion, joy, and love in the pursuit of a happier, healthier, and more prosperous world for all.
- Gathering of Kindness – aims to build, nurture and instil a culture of kindness throughout the healthcare system.
- Kaleidoscope Health and Care – Kaleidoscope support us in our monthly Conversations for Kindness. Their first requirement to work with them is to be kind.
- The King’s Fund – explores the role of, and supports, leaders in creating a culture of compassion and inclusion.
- Thank and Praise – a social thanking platform that enables people to send messages of thanks and appreciation to key workers quickly, easily and securely.
- What Matters To You? – an international person-centered care movement.
Kindness tools
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK – behaviours framework
- Kindness in healthcare (Klaber – update December 2023)