Theme: Empathic Healthcare and Meaningful Community Engagement of People Living with Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTCs)
Date: August 21–22, 2025
Time: 09:30 am – 4:00 pm IST
Venue: National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi

Introduction

The Empowering Healthcare Professionals workshop was conducted by HRIDAY in collaboration with the Trained Nurses’ Association of India (TNAI) – Delhi Branch, with support from the National Institute for Health Care and Research (NIHR), University of Leicester, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), and Kathmandu Medical College.

The workshop was conceptualized as a sensitisation and co-creation programme to develop a structured course module on empathic healthcare and meaningful community engagement for healthcare workers, nursing professionals, and allied personnel. The event provided a platform for joint learning, dialogue, and curriculum development to strengthen the response to Multiple Long-Term Conditions (MLTCs).

Main Objective

The primary objective of the workshop was to co-create a comprehensive course module that integrates:
– Empathic healthcare and communication skills
– Cultural competence in healthcare delivery
– Strategies for effective community engagement and involvement (CEI)
– Behaviour change and self-care support methods for sustainable outcomes

Target Audience

The participants were members of the TNAI Delhi Branch, bringing in perspectives from:
 1. Community health services – frontline nurses, CHOs, PHNs, ANMs, ASHAs
 2. Hospital-based nursing care – across clinical specialities
 3. Medical and teaching institutions – educators and academic trainers

This diversity enriched the co-creation process by combining practical nursing experience, community realities, and academic insights.

Programme Details

Day 1: August 21, 2025
Opening Remarks: Framed the need for empathic healthcare and community engagement in MLTCs
Scientific Sessions included: HRIDAY & NIHR MLTCs programme overview, training goals, NCD burden, MLTC clusters and management challenges, health literacy and digital empowerment.
Breakout Sessions: Participants identified core elements for the course module, such as health literacy, use of digital tools, and self-care strategies
Closing: Reflections on empathy and knowledge-driven care

Day 2: August 22, 2025
Recap of Day 1: Dr. Priyanka
Scientific Sessions included: CEI strategies, Community Champion case studies, empathic patient care, implementation research, CEI models and art-based methods.
Breakout Sessions: Focused on shaping module components on empathy training, CEI frameworks, and trust-building
Closing: Feedback, certificate distribution, and finalisation of draft module outline

Workshop Outcome: Draft Course Module Framework

The co-creation process led to a detailed draft course module with the following components:

1. Understanding MLTCs and the Role of Empathy
   – Burden of NCDs/MLTCs, empathy in healthcare, patient narratives
2. Empathic Communication Skills
   – Active listening, non-verbal cues, handling difficult conversations, role-play
3. Cultural Competence in Care
   – Diversity, stigma, gender, self-reflection on bias
4. Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI)
   – CEI principles, Community Champions, case examples
5. Health Literacy and Digital Empowerment
   – Simplifying medical language, telemedicine, exercise: education material
6. Self-Care and Caregiver Empowerment
   – Patient-centred self-care, supporting caregivers, activity: care plan
7. Behaviour Change Communication (BCC)
   – Theories, motivational interviewing, activity: behaviour-change messages
8. Implementation, Reflection, and Art-Based Methods
   – Applying empathy/CEI in practice, overcoming barriers, storytelling, and action planning

Highlights

– HRIDAY–TNAI Delhi Branch collaboration enriched content with nursing perspectives
– Co-creation ensured practical, context-sensitive module design
– Community Champion stories grounded the framework in real-world realities
– Breakout sessions resulted in concrete, structured module content

Feedback and Outcome

Participants appreciated being co-creators of the module, rather than passive learners. They felt the framework would directly apply across hospital, community, and teaching settings, ensuring relevance and sustainability.

The Link for the workshop photos:

https://01164546720-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/shishirendu_hriday-shan_org/EvLKaHcIMkVNqpO8dbK4jS4BmSzn3ibdKwEuYfrMuxh_Tg?e=qzcecA

Conclusion

The Empowering Healthcare Professionals workshop, conducted by HRIDAY in collaboration with TNAI Delhi Branch, achieved its goal of co-creating a course module on empathic healthcare and community engagement. By combining expert knowledge, nursing perspectives, and lived experiences, the workshop produced a practical framework for future capacity building. The programme concluded with certificate distribution, positive feedback, and a shared commitment to advancing compassionate and people-centred healthcare in India.https://01164546720-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/shishirendu_hriday-shan_org/EvLKaHcIMkVNqpO8dbK4jS4BmSzn3ibdKwEuYfrMuxh_Tg?e=qzcecA