What is clinical empathy? Perspectives of community members, university students, cancer patients, and physicians

Abstract

ObjectivesTo explore what undergraduates, community members, oncology patients, and physicians consider empathic behavior in a physician. Methods150 undergraduates, 152 community members, 95 physicians, and 89 oncology patients rated 49 hypothetical physician behaviors for how well they fit their personal definition of physician empathy. Dimensions of empathy were explored and compared across groups. ResultsThree dimensions of empathy were Conscientious and Reassuring, Relationship Oriented, and Emotionally Involved. Relationship Oriented was the most strongly endorsed, followed by Emotionally Involved, with Conscientious and Reassuring coming in last. There were no group differences for Conscientious and Reassuring, but the Relationship Oriented factor was more endorsed by the clinical groups (physicians and patients) than the non-clinical groups. The Emotionally Involved factor was endorsed by physicians notably more than by patients. ConclusionWhat is considered clinical empathy is not the same across individuals and stakeholder groups. Practice ImplicationsPhysicians and patients differ in how much they include the physicians’ emotionality and emotion-related actions in their definition of empathy. Communication training for physicians that emphasizes behaviors associated with empathy (listening, understanding a person’s feelings and perspectives, and showing interest in and concern for the whole person) may enhance patients’ perception of clinical empathy.