A Critical Analysis of Neurological Theories on Empathy in Healthcare

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-113
Author(s):  
Ylva Gustafsson
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Care Work ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Daily Care ◽  
Whole Person ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Ethical Response

Some employ neurological theories of empathy to train medical students and to explain why care work is emotionally exhausting. I argue, however, that these theories develop conceptual and methodological confusion that creates a reductive and misdirected focus in patient-centered care. Neurological theories on empathy do not help us understand patient-centered care, nor do they help us understand why care work can be exhausting. By discussing examples of care work, I argue that empathic attentiveness to patients is a dialogical ethical response to the whole person and takes place in daily care settings of working, helping, and responding to each other.

The Diabetes Simulation Challenge: Enhancing Patient Perspective-Taking for Medical Students

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Shaffer-Hudkins ◽  
Sara Hinojosa Orbeck ◽  
Kathy Bradley-Klug ◽  
Nicole Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Chronic Health Condition ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Training Tool ◽  
Centered Care

The Diabetes Simulation Challenge is a unique training tool to foster empathy, a key facet of patient-centered care, for medical students. Thirty-two medical students participated in a 24-hour perspective-taking activity as part of their curriculum, during which they simulated some common experiences of living with a chronic health condition, specifically type 1 diabetes. Students’ written reflections were analyzed using a phenomenological qualitative approach to provide a composite description of the experience. An exhaustive, iterative method of thematic analysis that included manual coding was used to determine whether this activity led to expressions of empathy or thoughts and beliefs consistent with patient-centered health care. Nine unique themes emerged, six of which indicated that students adopted the perspective of an individual with a chronic illness. Most of the students’ reflections illustrated an understanding of the behavioral, social, and emotional challenges related to living with type 1 diabetes, as well as increased empathy toward individuals with the disease. Medical students who aim to provide patient-centered care benefited from this perspective-taking exercise, and training programs should consider using such methods to extend learning beyond traditional didactic education.

scholarly journals Attitudes of medical students in Pakistan toward the doctor-patient relationship

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waqas Ahmad ◽  
Edward Krupat ◽  
Yumna Asmaa ◽  
Noor-E- Fatima ◽  
Rayan Attique ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Academic Year

Background. We initiated this study with the aim to assess the leaning of medical students towards either a doctor-centered or a patient-centered care and explore the effects of personal attributes on it like gender, academic year etc. of the students. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted between July-Sep 2013. The study population consisted of 1274 medical students in years 1-5 from two medical colleges. English version of PPOS was used to assess attitudes of medical students towards doctor-patient relationship. The relationship between PPOS scores and individual characteristics like gender, academic year etc. were examined by using Independent t-test and one way ANOVA. Results. A total of 792 students formed the final sample. Characteristics associated with most patient-centered attitudes were being in 4th academic year, married, being a foreigner and belonging to a Private college (p<0.05). Characteristics associated with most doctor-centered attitudes were being in 2nd academic year, divorced, having a local origin and belonging to a Govt. college (p<0.05). Gender and having doctor parents had no bearing, statistically, on the attitudes. Conclusion. Despite ongoing debate and emphasis on a patient-centered curriculum, our study suggests that current curriculum and its teachings are not producing the results they are designed to achieve. Students should be adequately exposed to the patients from the beginning of their medical education in clinical settings which are more sympathetic to a patient-centered care.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Educational Interventions and Their Impact on Empathy and Compassion of Undergraduate Medical Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prianna Menezes ◽  
Salman Y. Guraya ◽  
Shaista Salman Guraya
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Technology Enhanced Learning ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Centered Care

Introduction: A compassionate and patient-centered care leads to improved clinical outcomes. Promoting empathy and compassion of medical students is a forerunner of their well-being, emotional stability, and a patient-centered care. However, there is slender evidence about best educational interventions that can inculcate empathy and compassion skills. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of research evaluating the associations between spectrum, effectiveness, frequency of teaching modalities and their outcomes on compassion and empathy to highlight best practices.Methods: We searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO Host on 22nd July 2020. We adapted our search strategy from a previously published systematic review on education for compassion and empathy. Selected studies were required to have used unique educational interventions for promoting empathy and compassion of medical students. The research questions were based on Participants (medical students), Intervention (empathy and/or compassion related teaching), Comparison, and Outcome.Results: We analyzed 24 articles from the initial yield of 2,861. Twenty-two were quantitative studies with a mean of 12.8 on MERSQI. Twelve were randomized controlled trials while 5 measured outcomes with single group pre- and post-tests. There was no association found between duration, frequency and complexity of an educational intervention and its effectiveness. Twenty used multimodality curricula, and of those 18 reported statistically significant positive improvement in empathy, while 3 of 4 single modality were effective. Only three studies looked for long-term effects of educational interventions. Fourteen studies evaluated Kirkpatrick's level one (self-reported knowledge), 2 level three (behavior), and 6 level four (patient outcomes). We identified six major educational constructs of teaching empathy and compassion; communication, mindfulness, early clinical exposure, technology-enhanced learning, comics and arts and culture.Discussion: Our review couldn't identify a standard teaching construct in place and highlighted that different teaching tools carry similar impact in promoting compassion and empathy and a sustainable program rather than a single training activity is essential.

Defining elements of patient-centered care for therapeutic relationships: a literature review of common themes

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Clarke ◽  
Carolyn Ells ◽  
Brett D Thombs ◽  
David Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Health Professional ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Professional Relationships ◽  
Professional Relationship ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Clinical Method ◽  
Analysis Process ◽  
Whole Person ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Centered Care

Rationale and aims: Patient-centered care is a recognized clinical method and ideal for patient - health professional relationships. Many definitions have influenced its evolution. For this research, our aim was: (1) to assess definitions and descriptions of patient-centered care to draw out elements of patient-centered care that are considered to be important markers of successful patient-centered care in the patient - health professional relationship and (2) to propose a set of elements that collectively reflect the diversity of ‘patient-centered’ definitions that describe the patient-professional relationship in this literature. A secondary aim was (3) to provide elements that could be used for development of a quality assessment tool.Methods: We conducted a critical interpretive review of patient-centered care and patient-centered communication literature, beginning with a critical synthesis that yielded 12 articles that introduced new theoretical and definitional work on patient-centered care and patient-centered communication. We used an inductive and iterative analysis process to identify and group common themes. We used operational language to describe these themes. Results: We identified 6 elements (each with 2 or more sub-elements) of the patient - health professional relationship that are considered important markers of successful patient-centered care (as found in this literature). The 6 elements are: (1) Engaging the Patient as a Whole Person, (2) Recognizing and Responding to Emotions, (3) Fostering a Therapeutic Alliance, (4) Promoting an Exchange of Information, (5) Sharing Decision-Making and (6) Enabling Continuity of Care, Self-Management and Patient Navigation. Conclusions: Comparable fundamental elements were common among most authors within this literature: we found that variation in theory was typically a matter of degree and language. This work contributes analyses towards greater theoretical consistency for conceptions of patient-centered care. It also provides avenues for future development of quality assurance benchmarks.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Patient Encounters That Challenge Medical Students’ Provision of Patient-Centered Care

2009 ◽  
Vol 84 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S74-S78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas J. Bower ◽  
Staci Young ◽  
Gunnar Larson ◽  
Deborah Simpson ◽  
Sajani Tipnis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Centered Care

scholarly journals Chaplain Rounds: A Chance for Medical Students to Reflect on Spirituality in Patient-Centered Care

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Frazier ◽  
Karen Schnell ◽  
Susan Baillie ◽  
Margaret L. Stuber
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Patient Centered Care ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Centered Care
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