Impact of physician empathy on patient outcomes: a gender analysis

Surchat, Caroline; Carrard, Valérie; Gaume, Jacques; Berney, Alexandre; Clair, Carole

doi:10.3399/bjgp.2021.0193

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…41 Physician gender should also be considered, as a recent study showed that verbal empathy statements were linked to higher patient satisfaction only when the physician was male. 42 We did not find any differences in the ESr according to the nature of empathy. Only the studies that comprised at least the emotional process of empathy (i.e., a genuine interest in and a full understanding of the patient, genuine care and compassion) were included in the meta-analysis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

“…In this regard, artificial intelligence may be a precious tool in the future to code this iterative process along with non‐verbal (e.g., prosodic features) and physiological reactions (e.g., cortisol secretion) of both clinicians and patients 41 . Physician gender should also be considered, as a recent study showed that verbal empathy statements were linked to higher patient satisfaction only when the physician was male 42 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The association of physician empathy with cancer patient outcomes: A meta‐analysis

et al. 2023

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Objective In oncology, research remains unclear as to whether physician empathy is associated with patient outcomes. Our goal was to answer this question and explore potential moderators of the association. Methods In this meta‐analysis on adult cancer care, we excluded randomised controlled trials, and studies of survivors without active disease or involving analogue patients. Eight databases were searched, in addition to reference lists of relevant articles and grey literature. Two reviewers independently screened citations, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and graded quality of evidence by using the AXIS tool. Effect size correlations (ESr) were chosen and pooled by using a random effect model. Subgroup analyses were performed, and statistically significant variables were introduced in a meta‐regression. Several methods were used to explore heterogeneity and publication biases. Results We included 55 articles, yielding 55 ESr (n = 12,976 patients). Physician empathy was associated with favourable patient outcomes: ESr = 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.18 to 0.27), z = 9.58, p < 0.001. However, heterogeneity was high, as reflected by a large prediction interval, 95% (−0.07 to 0.49) and I2 = 94.5%. The meta‐regression explained 53% of variance. Prospective designs and physician empathy assessed by researchers, compared with patient‐reported empathy, decreased ESr. Bad‐news consultations, compared with all other types of clinical encounters, tended to increase ESr. Conclusion Patient‐reported physician empathy is significantly associated with cancer patient outcomes. However, the high heterogeneity warrants further longitudinal studies to disentangle the conditions under which physician empathy can help patients. Recommendations are proposed for future research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association of physician empathy with cancer patient outcomes: A meta‐analysis

et al. 2023

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“…We also found that reflective capacity mediated the relationship between reflective writing and perceived better patient care. While there is evidence supporting the role of medical humanities in fostering empathy 10,17,18 and the association between empathy and improved patient care, [33][34][35] there is less research into whether the use of medical humanities directly impacts patient care, though some theories as to how this might be achieved have been proposed. Building on the work of Charon, 14 Lapite proposed that by fostering empathy for patients, medical humanities help to improve the clinicianpatient relationship.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical Humanities in Undergraduate Psychiatry Teaching: Learner Assessment and Mediators of Better Learning Outcomes

Rajagopalan,

Chew,

Sim

2023

Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development

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OBJECTIVES Previous studies have found that the inclusion of medical humanities in medical education was associated with improvements in learner reflectivity and empathy. There is less data, however, on the impact of medical humanities on perceived patient care and mediators of learner outcomes. Our study aimed to determine the impact of medical humanities on perceived learner well-being and patient care, and the mediators of these outcomes in medical undergraduates undergoing psychiatric training. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2021 to December 2022 within undergraduate medical students undergoing psychiatry rotations and who attended sessions entitled “Humanities in Psychiatry.” Both quantitative and qualitative data were obtained through anonymized online feedback forms. Path analysis was performed to examine the relationship between learners’ perception of the medical humanities writing activity and its potential to improve their well-being, patient care, as well as mediators of these outcomes. RESULTS Overall, 97 medical undergraduates (response rate 67.4%) participated in the study and more than four-fifths reported improvements in listening, reflection, empathy, personal well-being, and perceived patient care. Males showed more interest in additional medical humanities sessions (mean rank 57.9 vs 42.5, P = .005) and greater improvements in personal well-being (mean rank 55.1 vs 44.5, P = .044). Path analysis showed that reflective capacity of learners mediated the relationship between reflective writing and perceived improvements in learner well-being (β = 0.596, 95% CI = 0.409-0.737) and patient care (β = 0.557, 95% CI = 0.379-0.702). CONCLUSIONS Our study found that the majority of learners responded positively to the medical humanities sessions, which suggests that its use could be beneficial in fostering empathy, reflection, learner well-being, and improved patient care. Using the PRISM model, we present practical implications for educators to consider when using medical humanities in relation to psychiatry training.

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“…Other foundational helping competencies include rapport building, the demonstration of empathy, using culturally or age-appropriate terminology and concepts for distress, and ensuring communication of hope. Competent use in foundational helping by health and care workers improves outcomes for people accessing different fields of health services, ranging from surgery to pain clinics (Kohrt et al, 2015 ; Hojat, 2016 ; Golshan et al, 2019 ; Walsh et al, 2019 ; Surchat et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A mixed methods evaluation of a World Health Organization competency-based training package for foundational helping skills among pre-service and in-service health workers in Nepal, Peru and Uganda

Pedersen¹,

Shrestha²,

Akellot³

et al. 2023

Camb. prisms Glob. ment. health

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Health systems globally demand more competent workers but lack competency-based training programs to reach their goals. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a competency-based curriculum (EQUIP-FHS) for trainers and supervisors to teach foundational helping knowledge, attitudes and skills, guided by the WHO/UNICEF EQUIP platform, to improve the competency of in-service and pre-service workers from various health and other service sectors. A mixed-methods, uncontrolled before-and-after trial was conducted in Nepal, Peru, and Uganda from 2020 to 2021. Trainees’ (N = 150) competency data were collected during 13 FHS trainings. Paired t-tests assessed pre- to post-change in ENACT competency measures (e.g., harmful, helpful). Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. EQUIP-FHS trainings, on average, were 20 h in duration. Harmful behaviors significantly decreased, and helpful behaviors significantly increased, across and within sites from pre-to post-training. Qualitatively, trainees and trainers promoted the training and highlighted difficult competencies and areas for scaling the training. A brief competency-based curriculum on foundational helping delivered through pre-service or in-service training can reduce the risk that healthcare workers and other service providers display harmful behaviors. We recommend governmental and nongovernmental organizations implement competency-based approaches to enhance the quality of their existing workforce programming and be one step closer to achieving the goal of quality healthcare around the globe.

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Impact of physician empathy on patient outcomes: a gender analysis

Cited by 13 publications

References 62 publications

The association of physician empathy with cancer patient outcomes: A meta‐analysis

The association of physician empathy with cancer patient outcomes: A meta‐analysis

Medical Humanities in Undergraduate Psychiatry Teaching: Learner Assessment and Mediators of Better Learning Outcomes

A mixed methods evaluation of a World Health Organization competency-based training package for foundational helping skills among pre-service and in-service health workers in Nepal, Peru and Uganda

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