Empatía médica en residentes y tutores de medicina familiar y comunitaria. La visión del profesional y del paciente

Abstract

AimTo determine the degree of clinical empathy among family medicine residents and tutors. To gauge whether there is a relationship between physicians’ self-perceived empathy levels and their patients’ assessments. Study designObservational, cross-sectional survey. LocationPrimary Care Teaching Unit. Madrid. ParticipantsA survey was sent by email to all the Teaching Unit's family medicine tutors and residents. Responses were received from 50 residents (39.4%) and 41 tutors (45%). In addition, 428 patients were opportunistically recruited at a healthcare centre and their doctors were also interviewed. Primary measurement instrumentsEmpathy was measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy. ResultsThe tutors scored 2.53 points higher for cognitive empathy than the residents (P=.04). Emotional empathy scores declined among older tutors (r= −0.32; P=.05). The Spanish students (82% of the total) without previous work experience scored higher for overall empathy (P=.02). Final-year residents recorded significantly worse empathy assessments than the other residents. A positive correlation (r=0.72; P=.01) was observed between physicians’ self-perceived empathy and their patients’ perceptions. ConclusionsResidents with previous work experience, final-year residents and those of Latin American origin score lower for empathy. There is a strong relationship between physicians’ self-perceived empathy and their patients’ views of their empathy levels.