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Del Barrio LG, Rodríguez-Díez C, Gea A, Arbea L, Pereira J, Díez N. Impact of a longitudinal course on medical professionalism on the empathy of medical students. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2024; 119:108042. [PMID: 37978022 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.108042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Medical education should enhance empathy. We examined, using self-assessment instruments and standardized patients (SPs), the impact on empathy, of a multi-year intervention (years 4-6 of medical training) that uses reflective learning approaches. METHODS 241 final-year medical students participated; 110 from the 2018 graduation class (non-intervention group) and 131 from the 2019 graduation class (intervention group). Participants completed two self-reported empathy questionnaires - the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Students (JSE-S) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) - and a personality questionnaire, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Additionally, SPs in a simulated station assessed participants' empathy with two patient-reported instruments: the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) scale and the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy (JSPPPE). RESULTS Empathy scores were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the non-intervention group when assessed by the SP (p < 0.001). No differences were found in self-reported questionnaires between the two groups. CONCLUSION A longitudinal, multi-year reflection-based intervention enhanced empathy amongst medical students as assessed by SPs, but not when assessed by student self-reported measures. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Multi-year reflective learning interventions during clinical training nurture empathy in medical students. Assessments completed by SPs or patients may enhance the evaluation of empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreto García Del Barrio
- Department of Radiology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Alfredo Gea
- Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Leire Arbea
- Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - José Pereira
- Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Canada
| | - Nieves Díez
- Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
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López-Martínez AE, Serrano-Ibáñez ER, Solís-Serrano L, Ramírez-Maestre C, Esteve R. Empathy among health science undergraduates toward the diagnosis of chronic pain: An experimental study. NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 2023; 130:105922. [PMID: 37562151 DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyse the empathetic response of future health professionals toward people diagnosed with chronic pain differentiated by the degree of visibility and credibility of symptoms. METHODS A total of 203 undergraduates performed an experimental task using vignettes depicting different diagnoses of chronic pain and completed questionnaires measuring dispositional and situational empathy. A MANCOVA analysis was conducted. RESULTS The main effects of chronic pain diagnoses did not significantly affect situational empathy (p = .587, η2 = 0.007, d = 0.229). The dispositional empathy variables perspective-taking and personal distress affected the situational empathy scores (p = .002, η2 = 0.072, d = 0.906, and p = .043, η2 = 0.032, d = 0.547, respectively). CONCLUSIONS It would seem appropriate to foster intra-individual empathy factors among health science undergraduates such that they can more readily understand the process of individual adaptation to chronic pain and thus manage it more effectively. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS It would be useful for dispositional empathy to form part of the transversal competences of the training programmes of future health professionals from the beginning of their studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia E López-Martínez
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain; Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga-IBIMA (Spain), C/Dr. Ortiz Ramos, 12.29010 Málaga, Spain.
| | - Elena R Serrano-Ibáñez
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain; Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga-IBIMA (Spain), C/Dr. Ortiz Ramos, 12.29010 Málaga, Spain.
| | - Laura Solís-Serrano
- Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga-IBIMA (Spain), C/Dr. Ortiz Ramos, 12.29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Carmen Ramírez-Maestre
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain; Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga-IBIMA (Spain), C/Dr. Ortiz Ramos, 12.29010 Málaga, Spain.
| | - Rosa Esteve
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain; Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga-IBIMA (Spain), C/Dr. Ortiz Ramos, 12.29010 Málaga, Spain.
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Gertsman S, Ene IC, Palmert S, Liu A, Makkar M, Shao I, Shapiro J, Williams C. Clinical empathy as perceived by patients with chronic illness in Canada: a qualitative focus group study. CMAJ Open 2023; 11:E859-E868. [PMID: 37751921 PMCID: PMC10521922 DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20220211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although clinical empathy - the ability of a physician to understand a patient's illness experience, communicate this understanding and act collaboratively to create a treatment plan - provides substantial benefits to both physicians and patients, medical students typically experience a decline in empathy during training. The primary objective of this study was to generate a model of clinical empathy grounded in the perspectives of people with chronic illness living in Canada, to promote empathy-focused curricular development in Canadian medical education. METHODS We conducted a qualitative focus group study using a constructivist grounded theory approach. We recruited adults (age ≥ 18 yr) with chronic illness who had recently seen a physician in Canada from virtual support groups. Six semistructured virtual focus groups with 3-5 participants each were scheduled between June and September 2021. We coded the transcripts using the constant comparative method, allowing for the construction of an overarching theory. RESULTS Twenty patients (17 women and 3 men) participated in the focus groups; 1 group had 2 participants because 1 participant failed to appear. The majority of participants (14 [70%]) had at least a college degree. The mean rating for overall satisfaction with the Canadian health care system was 5.4/10.0 (median 5.0). The emergent theory showed that the perceived presence of physician empathy engendered positive internal processing by patients, leading to increased health care efficacy and enhanced mental health outcomes. Negative patient processing in response to the perceived absence of empathy led to reduced quality of health care delivery (e.g., ineffective referrals and more appointments), increased use of health care resources, disruptions in patients' personal lives, and negative physical and mental health outcomes. INTERPRETATION Clinical empathy can have life-altering impacts on patients, and its absence may increase resource use. As empathy involves understanding patients' lived experiences, any valid intervention to improve clinical empathy must be informed by patient perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shira Gertsman
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Gertsman, Ene, Palmert, Liu, Makkar, Shao), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Department of Family Medicine (Shapiro), UC Irvine School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; Department of Pediatrics (Williams), Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Williams), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.
| | - Ioana Cezara Ene
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Gertsman, Ene, Palmert, Liu, Makkar, Shao), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Department of Family Medicine (Shapiro), UC Irvine School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; Department of Pediatrics (Williams), Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Williams), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont
| | - Sasha Palmert
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Gertsman, Ene, Palmert, Liu, Makkar, Shao), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Department of Family Medicine (Shapiro), UC Irvine School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; Department of Pediatrics (Williams), Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Williams), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont
| | - Amy Liu
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Gertsman, Ene, Palmert, Liu, Makkar, Shao), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Department of Family Medicine (Shapiro), UC Irvine School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; Department of Pediatrics (Williams), Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Williams), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont
| | - Mallika Makkar
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Gertsman, Ene, Palmert, Liu, Makkar, Shao), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Department of Family Medicine (Shapiro), UC Irvine School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; Department of Pediatrics (Williams), Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Williams), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont
| | - Ian Shao
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Gertsman, Ene, Palmert, Liu, Makkar, Shao), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Department of Family Medicine (Shapiro), UC Irvine School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; Department of Pediatrics (Williams), Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Williams), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont
| | - Johanna Shapiro
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Gertsman, Ene, Palmert, Liu, Makkar, Shao), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Department of Family Medicine (Shapiro), UC Irvine School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; Department of Pediatrics (Williams), Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Williams), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont
| | - Connie Williams
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Gertsman, Ene, Palmert, Liu, Makkar, Shao), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Department of Family Medicine (Shapiro), UC Irvine School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; Department of Pediatrics (Williams), Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Williams), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont
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Yang N, Zhang Y, Liu Z, Wang F, Yang G, Hu X. Influence of Social Workers' Empathy Ability on Suicidal Ideation of Cancer Patients. Front Public Health 2022; 10:925307. [PMID: 35968492 PMCID: PMC9364132 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.925307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The nursing goal of patients with cancer is to provide them with holistic care, including physical, psychological, and social adaptation, and spirituality. This research aimed to explore the influence of the social workers' empathy ability on suicidal ideation of patients with cancer and its path. Methods There was a sum of 358 patients with cancer and the 45 social workers serving them participated in the survey. Data of their self-efficacy, depression symptom, stigma, and suicidal ideation were measured before the social work provided (T1) and 3 months after the social work finished (T2) were collected and compared. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships between social workers' empathy ability and patient indicators at T2. The influence path of social workers' empathy ability on cancer patients' suicidal ideation was explored by path analysis at T2. Results At T2, patients reported higher self-efficacy and lower depression symptoms, stigma, and suicidal ideation than at T1. At T2, social workers' empathy ability was positively related to patients' self-efficacy and was negatively related to depression symptoms, stigma, and suicidal ideation. Social workers' empathy ability affected patients' suicidal ideation directly. In addition, patients' self-efficacy, depression symptoms, and stigma played mediating roles in the influence of social workers' empathy abilities on their suicidal ideation. Conclusion Social workers' empathy ability not only directly affected cancer patients' suicide ideation but also affected suicide ideation through the mediating roles of self-efficacy, depression symptoms, and stigma. Therefore, the improvement of the empathy ability of medical social workers needs to be paid attention to.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningxi Yang
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
- Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuting Zhang
- Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhibo Liu
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guoqing Yang
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiuying Hu
- Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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