Impact of communication training on physician expression of empathy in patient encounters.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether an educational intervention that focused on physician communication training influenced physician empathic expression during patient interactions.


METHODS
This study used a quantitative research method to investigate the influence of communication training on physician-expressed empathy using two measures (global and hierarchical) of physician empathic behavior.


RESULTS
The differences in global empathy scores in the physician training group from baseline to follow-up improved by 37%, and hierarchical scores of physician empathic expression improved by up to 51% from baseline scores for the same group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results strongly supported the hypotheses that training made a significant difference in physician empathic expression during patient interactions demonstrated by both outside observer measures of global ratings and hierarchical ratings of physician empathic behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings have significant implications for program design and development in medical education and professional training with the potential to improve patient outcomes.
Bonvicini
Kathleen A
KA
Institute for Healthcare Communication, 555 Long Wharf Drive, 13th floor, New Haven, CT 06511, United States. kbonvicini@healthcarecomm.org
Perlin
Michael J
MJ
Bylund
Carma L
CL
Carroll
Gregory
G
Rouse
Ruby A
RA
Goldstein
Michael G
MG
D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States