ObjectivesThis study investigated the associations between self-assessed empathy levels by physicians in training and empathy levels as perceived by their patients after clinical encounters. The authors also examined whether patient assessments were valid and reliable tools to measure empathy in physicians in training.DesignA multicentric, observational, cross-sectional study.SettingThis study was conducted in three public teaching hospitals in Brazil.ParticipantsFrom the 668 patients invited to participate in this research, 566 (84.7%) agreed. Of these, 238 (42%) were male and 328 (58%) were female. From the invited 112 physicians in training, 86 (76.8%) agreed. Of the 86 physicians in training, 35 (41%) were final-year medical students and 51 (59%) were residents from clinical and surgical specialties. The gender distribution was 39 (45%) males and 47 (51%) females.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPhysicians in training filled the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSE) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Patients answered the Jefferson Scale of Patient’s Perceptions of Physician Empathy (JSPPPE) and the Consultation and Relational Empathy Scale (CARE).ResultsThis study found non-significant correlations between patient and physicians-in-training self-assessments, except for a weak correlation (0.241, p<0.01) between the JSPPPE score and the JSE compassionate care subscore. CARE and JSPPPE scales proved to be valid and reliable instruments.ConclusionsPhysicians-in-training self-assessments of empathy differ from patient assessments. Knowledge about empathy derived from self-assessment studies probably does not capture the perspective of the patients, who are key stakeholders in patient-centred care. Future research on the development of physician empathy or on outcomes of educational interventions to foster empathy should include patient perspectives.

Objective To investigate characteristics that may be associated with radiologic and functional findings following discharge in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods This single-center, prospective, observational cohort study comprised patients aged >18 years who were hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia, between May and October 2020. After 3 to 6 months of discharge, patients were clinically evaluated and underwent spirometry, a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and chest computed tomography (CT). Statistical analysis was performed using association and correlation tests. Results A total of 134 patients were included (25/114 [22%] were admitted with severe hypoxemia). On the follow-up chest CT, 29/92 (32%) had no abnormalities, regardless of the severity of the initial involvement, and the mean 6MWT distance was 447 m. Patients with desaturation on admission had an increased risk of remaining CT abnormalities: patients with SpO2 between 88 and 92% had a 4.0-fold risk, and those with SpO2 < 88% had a 6.2-fold risk. The group with SpO2 < 88% also walked shorter distances than patients with SpO2 between 88 and 92%. Conclusion Initial hypoxemia was found to be a good predictor of persistent radiological abnormalities in follow-up and was associated with low performance in 6MWT.

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O ensino de Ética e Bioética nos cursos de medicina ainda encontra diversas barreiras, seja pelo espaço restrito dentro do currículo, seja pela falta de capacitação docente. Nesse contexto, a implementação de uma Liga de Ética e Bioética pode vir a ser um instrumento importante para aproximar alunos e docentes em busca de novos modelos de ensino. O presente estudo relata o primeiro ano de implantação da Liga de Ética e Bioética (LiEBe) do curso de Medicina da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da UNICAMP.