Physician empathy according to physicians: A multi-specialty qualitative analysis

Abstract

Objectives: To explore how physicians in neurology, family medicine, internal medicine, and emergency medicine characterize clinical empathy.

Methods: Physicians (N = 94) were asked to describe up to 10 examples of empathic physician behavior. Data were analyzed using template analysis.

Results: Physicians' descriptions of clinical empathy patterned into three themes: Clinical Performance and Professionalism, Interpersonal Communication, and Clinician Orientation. Clinical Performance and Professionalism subthemes included physician competency and accessibility; intersection with institutional resources; and spending/making/taking time with patients. Interpersonal Communication subthemes involved information sharing; verbal and nonverbal approaches; interpersonal sensitivity; physician self-disclosure; and attention to emotion. Clinician Orientation encompassed general physician demeanor and internal thoughts and feelings that might be unobservable by patients. Physicians varied widely in the themes they mentioned in their definition of empathy.

Conclusion: Physicians hold diverse notions of clinical empathy. These extend beyond traditional affective and cognitive empathy definitions to include structural elements like team-based care and accessibility after hours. Communication behaviors were perceived as important for demonstrating empathy. Some physician descriptions of empathy may not be perceptible to patients.

Practice implications: Training physicians to engage in behaviors that both they and patients perceive as empathic may lead to higher patient and physician satisfaction.

Keywords: Burnout; Emergency medicine; Emotion; Empathy; Family Medicine; Neurology; Patient satisfaction; Physician wellbeing; Physician-Patient Communication; Primary care.