Relationship between increased personal well-being and enhanced empathy among internal medicine residents.
BACKGROUND
While resident distress and its potential to negatively effect patient care have been well documented, little is known bout resident well-being or its potential to enhance care.


OBJECTIVE
We measured resident well-being and explored its relationship with empathy.


METHODS
Anonymous, cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Internal medicine residents at Mayo Clinic Rochester (n=165, summer 2003).


METHODS
Well-being was measured using the previously validated Medical Outcomes Study 8-item Short Form (SF-8). Empathy was measured using the previously validated Perspective Taking (PT) and Empathetic Concerns (EC) Sub-scales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI).


RESULTS
Eighty-three (50%) residents responded to the survey. Mean scores for well-being as measured by the SF-8 were comparable to the general population, and empathy scores on the IRI were similar to other resident samples. Resident empathy on both the cognitive (PT) and emotive (EC) sub-scales of the IRI was higher for residents with higher mental well-being on the SF-8; however, this difference was statistically significant only for the cognitive sub-scale. The importance of a number of personal wellness promotion strategies differed for residents with higher mental well-being on the SF-8.


CONCLUSIONS
High mental well-being was associated with enhanced resident empathy in this cross-sectional survey. Future studies need to explore the potential for high resident well-being to enhance medical care and competency in addition to exploring the negative consequences of resident distress. Studies investigating how to promote resident well-being are needed.
Shanafelt
Tait D
TD
Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., USA. shanafelt.tait@mayo.edu
West
Colin
C
Zhao
Xinghua
X
Novotny
Paul
P
Kolars
Joseph
J
Habermann
Thomas
T
Sloan
Jeff
J
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D005791:Patient Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires