title: Training in empathic skills improves the patient-physician relationship during the first consultation in a fertility clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of physician training in empathic skills on patients' satisfaction just after their first consultation in a private fertility clinic setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private fertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen physicians were evaluated by 2,146 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The empathic training of physicians was centered on emotional intelligence, communication elements, social styles and empathy, and practical workshops. After their first consultation with the physician, patients answered a self-rating questionnaire comprising five scales: information provided, dynamic of the visit, time dedicated, patient-physician interaction, and expertise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients' satisfaction scores after the empathic training of physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all five scales, the empathic training resulted in a significant change of the global scoring distribution with a shift toward higher scores. The intervention also resulted in a lower likelihood of low scoring (in the lower quartile) for all the items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training in empathic skills of physicians resulted in higher patient satisfaction levels on the perceived information quality, communication skills, and time dedicated at first consultation for fertility treatment.
authors.affiliation: Fundació EUGIN, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Désirée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bautista
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Venereo
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Coll
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vassena
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vernaeve
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003253:Consultants / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires