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Howick J, de Zulueta P, Gray M. Beyond empathy training for practitioners: Cultivating empathic healthcare systems and leadership. J Eval Clin Pract 2024; 30:548-558. [PMID: 38436621 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Empathic care benefits patients and practitioners, and empathy training for practitioners can enhance empathy. However, practitioners do not operate in a vacuum. For empathy to thrive, healthcare consultations must be situated in a nurturing milieu, guided by empathic, compassionate leaders. Empathy will be suppressed, or even reversed if practitioners are burned out and working in an unpleasant, under-resourced environment with increasingly poorly served and dissatisfied patients. Efforts to enhance empathy must therefore go beyond training practitioners to address system-level factors that foster empathy. These include patient education, cultivating empathic leadership, customer service training for reception staff, valuing cleaning and all ancillary staff, creating healing spaces, and using appropriate, efficiency saving technology to reduce the administrative burden on healthcare practitioners. We divide these elements into environmental factors, organisational factors, job factors, and individual characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Howick
- Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, Leicester Medical School, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Paquita de Zulueta
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Muir Gray
- Director of the Oxford Value and Stewardship Programme, Oxford, UK
- Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Wang B, Kristiansen E, Fagerlund AJ, Zanaboni P, Hägglund M, Bärkås A, Kujala S, Cajander Å, Blease C, Kharko A, Huvila I, Kane B, Johansen MA. Users' Experiences With Online Access to Electronic Health Records in Mental and Somatic Health Care: Cross-Sectional Study. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e47840. [PMID: 38145466 PMCID: PMC10775043 DOI: 10.2196/47840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs) hold promise for empowering patients, but their impact may vary between mental and somatic health care. Medical professionals and ethicists have expressed concerns about the potential challenges of PAEHRs for patients, especially those receiving mental health care. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate variations in the experiences of online access to electronic health records (EHRs) among persons receiving mental and somatic health care, as well as to understand how these experiences and perceptions vary among those receiving mental health care at different levels of point of care. METHODS Using Norwegian data from the NORDeHEALTH 2022 Patient Survey, we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of service use and perceptions of perceived mistakes, omissions, and offensive comments by mental and somatic health care respondents. Content analysis was used to analyze free-text responses to understand how respondents experienced the most serious errors in their EHR. RESULTS Among 9505 survey participants, we identified 2008 mental health care respondents and 7086 somatic health care respondents. A higher percentage of mental health care respondents (1385/2008, 68.97%) reported that using PAEHR increased their trust in health care professionals compared with somatic health care respondents (4251/7086, 59.99%). However, a significantly larger proportion (P<.001) of mental health care respondents (976/2008, 48.61%) reported perceiving errors in their EHR compared with somatic health care respondents (1893/7086, 26.71%). Mental health care respondents also reported significantly higher odds (P<.001) of identifying omissions (758/2008, 37.75%) and offensive comments (729/2008, 36.3%) in their EHR compared with the somatic health care group (1867/7086, 26.35% and 826/7086, 11.66%, respectively). Mental health care respondents in hospital inpatient settings were more likely to identify errors (398/588, 67.7%; P<.001) and omissions (251/588, 42.7%; P<.001) than those in outpatient care (errors: 422/837, 50.4% and omissions: 336/837, 40.1%; P<.001) and primary care (errors: 32/100, 32% and omissions: 29/100, 29%; P<.001). Hospital inpatients also reported feeling more offended (344/588, 58.5%; P<.001) by certain content in their EHR compared with respondents in primary (21/100, 21%) and outpatient care (287/837, 34.3%) settings. Our qualitative findings showed that both mental and somatic health care respondents identified the most serious errors in their EHR in terms of medical history, communication, diagnosis, and medication. CONCLUSIONS Most mental and somatic health care respondents showed a positive attitude toward PAEHRs. However, mental health care respondents, especially those with severe and chronic concerns, expressed a more critical attitude toward certain content in their EHR compared with somatic health care respondents. A PAEHR can provide valuable information and foster trust, but it requires careful attention to the use of clinical terminology to ensure accurate, nonjudgmental documentation, especially for persons belonging to health care groups with unique sensitivities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Eli Kristiansen
- Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Paolo Zanaboni
- Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Maria Hägglund
- Participatory eHealth and Health Data Research Group, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Medtech Science & Innovation Centre, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Annika Bärkås
- Participatory eHealth and Health Data Research Group, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Medtech Science & Innovation Centre, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sari Kujala
- Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Åsa Cajander
- Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Blease
- Participatory eHealth and Health Data Research Group, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Medtech Science & Innovation Centre, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
- Digital Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Anna Kharko
- Participatory eHealth and Health Data Research Group, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Medtech Science & Innovation Centre, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
- Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Isto Huvila
- Department of Archives, Libraries & Museums, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bridget Kane
- Business School, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Monika Alise Johansen
- Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Beckstrom KM, Farrow SL. The effects of empathic communication skills training on nurse practitioner students. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract 2023:01741002-990000000-00185. [PMID: 37972939 DOI: 10.1097/jxx.0000000000000972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Evidence regarding the impact of empathic communication training on nurse practitioner (NP) students is lacking. Despite increasing emphasis within practice settings in the United States, formal communication training for NP students has been modestly integrated into curriculum, based on limited data supporting its efficacy. As such, we sought to evaluate the impact of empathic communication training on NP students' self-efficacy with empathic communication. This is a quasi-experimental study of a single group of NP students (n = 49) who participated in empathic communication training with pretraining/posttraining measurements using the Self-Efficacy-12 instrument. There were statistically significant improvements in students' comfort and confidence with nine of the 17 items surveyed. Several other domains also showed improvement approaching statistical significance. Based on our results, empathic communication training increases NP students' self-efficacy with empathic communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly M Beckstrom
- Nurse Practitioner Clinical Education Program, Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, Rochester, Minnesota
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Czubek E, Alcer K, Varjacic M, Romaniuk P. The importance and effectiveness of nutritional counselling in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases in Poland. COST EFFECTIVENESS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION 2022; 20:63. [PMID: 36471304 PMCID: PMC9721046 DOI: 10.1186/s12962-022-00397-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoimmune thyroid diseases are the most common diseases in humans. Their pathogenesis is complex, pushing patients to search different ways of alleviating their effects, one of which is diet change. The aim of this study was to assess the role of medical personnel in shaping eating habits in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease based on experiences declared by patients. METHODS We examined 208 individuals, of which 205 were qualified for final investigation. We selected study participants using accidental sampling, based on their appearance in health care facilities, including the ones providing endocrinological advices. The relationships between the qualitative features were tested using the Chi-square test of independence, assuming the significance level of p < 0.05. In the case of the expected cardinality < 10, the Chi-square test with correction for Yates continuity was used, while for the cardinality < 5-the Fisher exact test. RESULTS People with thyroid disease are statistically more likely to use dietitian advice than people without thyroid disease. The highest percentage of respondents decided to modify their nutrition due to their own initiative. In addition, patients with autoimmune thyroid disease are statistically more likely to consider changing their diet to improve their well-being. The connection between the source of advice and modification of eating behaviour was also noted. CONCLUSION Thanks to the joint effort of medical staff, patients can receive reliable knowledge about their disease, treatment and nutrition adapted to their needs. Trial registration approved by the Bioethics Committee of Medical University of Silesia in Katowice (opinion no.: PCN/0022/KB1/80/2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Czubek
- grid.411728.90000 0001 2198 0923Department of Health Policy, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Klaudia Alcer
- grid.411728.90000 0001 2198 0923Doctoral School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health Policy, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Mirjana Varjacic
- grid.413004.20000 0000 8615 0106Department of Fertility Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Piotr Romaniuk
- grid.411728.90000 0001 2198 0923Department of Health Policy, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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Krebs LD, Hill N, Villa-Roel C, McLane P, Rowe BH, Gupta S. “Not just the asthma”: Understanding the acute asthma experiences of adult women with asthma presenting to the emergency department through photovoice. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY, CRITICAL CARE, AND SLEEP MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/24745332.2022.2133756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lynette D. Krebs
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicole Hill
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Sociology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cristina Villa-Roel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Patrick McLane
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Strategic Clinical Networks, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian H. Rowe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Samir Gupta
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Innes SI, Simpson JK. Empathy levels in Australian chiropractic students. THE JOURNAL OF CHIROPRACTIC EDUCATION 2022; 36:110-116. [PMID: 35294012 PMCID: PMC9536223 DOI: 10.7899/jce-21-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Empathy is an important modifiable quality of health care practitioners that relates to the quality of patient care. The educative process may adversely affect the empathy levels of health care students at key phases of training. This topic remains unexplored in chiropractic students to date. METHODS A voluntary and anonymous questionnaire was distributed to all chiropractic students in an Australian university-based program in April 2021. This questionnaire recorded age, sex, year of study, and Toronto Empathy Questionnaire scores. RESULTS Chiropractic student empathy scores approximated those of other Australian health care students. No statistical differences were found when comparing the mean scores of empathy levels across the 5 student cohorts. The empathy levels of female chiropractic students' were significantly higher than those of the male chiropractic students. CONCLUSION This study provides a baseline from which further explorations on empathy may be conducted in chiropractic students. This holds the potential to improve practitioners' quality of life and patient outcomes and for educators to identify subject matter that may negatively affect empathy levels.
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Avlogiari E, Maria Karagiannaki S, Panteris E, Konsta A, Diakogiannis I. Improvement of Medical Students' Empathy Levels After an Intensive Experiential Training on Empathy Skills. PSYCHIAT CLIN PSYCH 2021; 31:392-400. [PMID: 38765648 PMCID: PMC11079646 DOI: 10.5152/pcp.2021.21098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background EMPATHY IN HEALTHCARE is an intensive 20-hour experiential training program based on mediation techniques and specialized healthcare role-play for clinicians and medical students. It is hypothesized that the training will improve empathy via the intensive experiential techniques implemented. Methods A total of 50 medical students (25 males/25 females) took the course voluntarily. Empathy was measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Medical Students Version (JSE-S) (Greek version), before and after the 20-hour training, along with a 6-month follow-up. Gender, age, preferred medical specialty and baseline empathy score were explored as possible moderator variables of the training effect. Results Empathy increased after training, with a mean JSE-S score improvement of 11.25 points (±8.848) (P < .001). After 6 months, the mean JSE-S score maintained a difference of 6.514 points (±12.912) (P < .005). No differences were recorded with regard to gender, age group or medical specialty for the pooled data. Women in the 22-24 year-old age group had a 5-point mean difference (P = .05), and higher post-training scores than men. Lower initial scorers were the ones that mostly improved, with a 3-fold mean score difference from the higher scorers regardless of gender (P < .001), while also showing a smaller drop in empathy levels 6 months after the training compared to the higher scorers. Conclusion Intensive experiential training can improve empathy in a clinical setting. EMPATHY IN HEALTHCARE is a successful training program in improving empathy in medical students, as measured by the JSE-S. A score of 110 and below could be used for selecting medical student candidates who will benefit most from empathy training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efpraxia Avlogiari
- 1st Psychiatry Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine
| | | | - Eleftherios Panteris
- 1st Psychiatry Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine
| | - Anastasia Konsta
- 1st Psychiatry Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine
| | - Ioannis Diakogiannis
- 1st Psychiatry Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine
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Srivastava U, Price A, Chu LF. Effects of a 2-Week Remote Learning Program on Empathy and Clinical and Communication Skills in Premedical Students: Mixed Methods Evaluation Study. JMIR MEDICAL EDUCATION 2021; 7:e33090. [PMID: 34704956 PMCID: PMC8581748 DOI: 10.2196/33090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Expressing empathy builds trust with patients, increases patient satisfaction, and is associated with better health outcomes. Research shows that expressing empathy to patients improves patient adherence to medications and decreases patient anxiety and the number of malpractice lawsuits. However, there is a dearth of research on teaching empathy to premedical students. The Clinical Science, Technology, and Medicine Summer Internship of Stanford Medicine (also called the Stanford Anesthesia Summer Institute) is a 2-week collaborative medical internship for high school and undergraduate students to inspire learners to be compassionate health care providers. The summer 2020 program was adapted to accomplish these objectives in a fully remote environment because of the COVID-19 global pandemic. OBJECTIVE This study aims to measure the change in empathy and competencies of participants in clinical and communication skills before and after program participation. METHODS A total of 41 participants completed only the core track of this program, and 39 participants completed the core + research track of this program. Participants in both tracks received instructions in selected clinical skills and interacted directly with patients to improve their interviewing skills. Research track participants received additional instructions in research methodology. All participants completed web-based pre- and postsurveys containing Knowledge and Skills Assessment (KSA) questions. Participant empathy was assessed using the validated Consultation and Relational Empathy measure. A subset of participants completed optional focus groups to discuss empathy. The pre- and post-KSA and Consultation and Relational Empathy measure scores were compared using paired 2-tailed t tests and a linear regression model. Open-ended focus group answers were then analyzed thematically. RESULTS Participants in both tracks demonstrated significant improvement in empathy after the 2-week remote learning course (P=.007 in core track; P<.001 in research track). These results remained significant when controlling for gender and age. A lower pretest score was associated with a greater change in empathy. Participants in both tracks demonstrated significant improvement in KSA questions related to surgical skills (P<.001 in core track; P<.001 in research track), epinephrine pen use (P<.001 in core track; P<.001 in research track), x-ray image interpretation (P<.001 in core track; P<.001 in research track), and synthesizing information to solve problems (P<.001 in core track; P=.05 in research track). The core track participants also showed significant improvements in health communication skills (P=.001). Qualitative analysis yielded 3 themes: empathy as action, empathy as a mindset, and empathy in designing health care systems. CONCLUSIONS Summer internships that introduce high school and undergraduate students to the field of health care through hands-on interaction and patient involvement may be an effective way to develop measurable empathy skills when combined with clinical skills training and mentorship. Notably, increases in empathy were observed in a program administered via a remote learning environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ujwal Srivastava
- Anesthesia, Informatics and Media Lab, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Amy Price
- Anesthesia, Informatics and Media Lab, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Larry F Chu
- Anesthesia, Informatics and Media Lab, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
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Aslan G, Bakan AB, Yildiz M. An investigation of the relationship between alexithymia and empathy tendency in university students receiving health education. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2021; 57:709-716. [PMID: 32780505 DOI: 10.1111/ppc.12602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to identify the relationship between alexithymia and empathy tendency in university students receiving health education. DESIGN AND METHODS This descriptive study was conducted with the volunteer participation of 376 students at a unıversity located in the eastern part of Turkey between September and October 2019. Data were collected through the Sociodemographic Form, the Empathy Tendency Scale, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. FINDINGS The Empathy Tendency Scale was found to be significantly higher in females, in those who lived alone, who did not experience a traumatic event when they were children, whose mother was alive, and who were not subject to violence. As to the Alexithymia Scale, mean scores were significantly higher in males, in those whose mother or father was illiterate, who had a monthly family income of less than 2000₺, who graduated from a Religious Vocational High School, and whose mother was not alive (P %3C .05). A negative, significant relationship was found between the Empathy Tendency Scale mean score and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (P %3C .001). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS A negative, significant relationship was found between empathy tendency and alexithymia. It is recommended that similar studies should be conducted in different regions as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulpinar Aslan
- Department of First and Immediate Aid, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Health Services Vocational School, Agrı, Turkey
| | - Ayse B Bakan
- Department of Nursing, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University School of Health, Agri, Turkey
| | - Metin Yildiz
- Department of Nursing, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University School of Health, Agri, Turkey
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Roberts BW, Puri NK, Trzeciak CJ, Mazzarelli AJ, Trzeciak S. Socioeconomic, racial and ethnic differences in patient experience of clinician empathy: Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247259. [PMID: 33657153 PMCID: PMC7928470 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Empathy is essential for high quality health care. Health care disparities may reflect a systemic lack of empathy for disadvantaged people; however, few data exist on disparities in patient experience of empathy during face-to-face health care encounters with individual clinicians. We systematically analyzed the literature to test if socioeconomic status (SES) and race/ethnicity disparities exist in patient-reported experience of clinician empathy. METHODS Using a published protocol, we searched Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, CENTRAL and PsychINFO for studies using the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) Measure, which to date is the most commonly used and well-validated methodology for measuring clinician empathy from the patient perspective. We included studies containing CARE Measure data stratified by SES and/or race/ethnicity. We contacted authors to request stratified data, when necessary. We performed quantitative meta-analyses using random effects models to test for empathy differences by SES and race/ethnicity. RESULTS Eighteen studies (n = 9,708 patients) were included. We found that, compared to patients whose SES was not low, low SES patients experienced lower empathy from clinicians (mean difference = -0.87 [95% confidence interval -1.72 to -0.02]). Compared to white patients, empathy scores were numerically lower for patients of multiple race/ethnicity groups (Black/African American, Asian, Native American, and all non-whites combined) but none of these differences reached statistical significance. CONCLUSION These data suggest an empathy gap may exist for patients with low SES. More research is needed to further test for SES and race/ethnicity disparities in clinician empathy and help promote health care equity. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registration (PROSPERO): CRD42019142809.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian W. Roberts
- Cooper University Health Care, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Humanism, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Nitin K. Puri
- Cooper University Health Care, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | | | - Anthony J. Mazzarelli
- Cooper University Health Care, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Humanism, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Stephen Trzeciak
- Cooper University Health Care, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Humanism, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
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Levy K, Grant PC, Kerr CW, Byrwa DJ, Depner RM. Hospice Patient Care Goals and Medical Students' Perceptions: Evidence of a Generation Gap? Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2020; 38:114-122. [PMID: 32588649 DOI: 10.1177/1049909120934737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability to perceive care goals of the dying may be an indicator of future quality patient-centered care. Research conducted on end-of-life goals indicates discrepancies between patients and physicians. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to compare end-of-life care goals of hospice patients and medical student perceptions of patient care goals. DESIGN Hospice patients and medical students were surveyed on their care goals and perceptions, respectively, using an 11-item survey of goals previously identified in palliative care literature. Medical student empathy was measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. SETTINGS/PARTICIPANTS Eighty hospice patients and 176 medical students (97 first-year and 79 third-year) in a New York State medical school. RESULTS Medical students ranked 7 of the 11 care goals differently than hospice patients: not being a burden to family (p < .001), time with family and friends (p = .002), being at peace with God (p < .001), dying at home (p = .004), feeling that life was meaningful (p < .001), living as long as possible (p < .001), and resolving conflicts (p < .001). Third-year students were less successful than first-year students in perceiving patient care goals of hospice patients. No significant differences in medical student empathy were found based on student year. CONCLUSIONS Medical students, while empathetic, were generally unsuccessful in perceiving end-of-life care goals of hospice patients in the psychosocial and spiritual domains. Differences impeding the ability of medical students to understand these care goals may be generationally based. Increased age awareness and sensitivity may improve future end-of-life care discussions. Overall, there is a need to recognize the greater dimensionality of the dying in order to provide the most complete patient-centered care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Levy
- Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, Cheektowaga, NY, USA.,Department of Planning and Research, Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Pei C Grant
- Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, Cheektowaga, NY, USA
| | | | - David J Byrwa
- Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, Cheektowaga, NY, USA.,School of Medicine, 12292University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Rachel M Depner
- Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, Cheektowaga, NY, USA.,Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, 12292University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Hannan J, Sanchez G, Musser ED, Ward-Peterson M, Azutillo E, Goldin D, Lara EG, Luna AM, Galynker I, Foster A. Correction to: Role of empathy in the perception of medical errors in patient encounters: a preliminary study. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12:501. [PMID: 31409427 PMCID: PMC6693194 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4518-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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