Ethical erosion in newly qualified doctors: perceptions of empathy decline.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to understand whether UK Foundation doctors perceived the phenomena of ethical erosion and empathy decline during their initial period of clinical practice, and if so, why this occurred.


METHODS
This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with nine doctors in their first year of clinical practice at Royal Bolton Hospital, UK. Participants were invited to discuss the definition of empathy, how individuals acquire and maintain empathic ability, perceptions of ethical erosion in the self and others, and how clinical experiences have influenced their empathic ability. The interviews were transcribed, and analysed to identify emergent themes.


RESULTS
Each participant reported a conscious acknowledgement of empathy decline in their own and their colleagues' early clinical experiences as doctors. Stressful working environments, the prioritisation of patients' physical rather than psychological well-being, and the attitudes of senior colleagues were all suggested as possible causes. Some doctors believed that specialties with reduced patient contact had a culture which precluded empathy, and influenced their own practice. In addition, some described how their value judgements of patients had affected their ability to empathise. However, all doctors perceived that empathy skills were desirable in senior clinicians, and some believed that educational interventions may be useful in arresting ethical erosion.


CONCLUSIONS
Newly qualified doctors are aware of ethical erosion in themselves and their colleagues as they begin clinical practice. This has serious implications for patient care. Improving working conditions may reverse this trend. Empathy skills training within undergraduate and postgraduate curricula may be a useful intervention.
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
Emily C
EC
Stratta
The University of Manchester, UK.
David M
DM
Riding
Health Education England (North West Office), UK.
Paul
P
Baker
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001364:Awareness; D004645:Empathy; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D010820:Physicians / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology; D013337:Students, Medical; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
empathy; ethics; medical education; patient-centred medicine; qualitative research