Define empathy
an intellectual identification with, or vicarious experiencing of, the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.
Why is empathy important
The ability to cross the divide between clinicians and patients
Helps with accomplishing professional diagnostic and therapeutic tasks
What are empathy skills and why are they important?
- behaviors that demonstrate empathy. They are among the clinician’s most powerful therapeutic tools.
- Empathetic behaviors enhance effectiveness of care & patient satisfaction.
- Their absence may predispose patients to initiate malpractice suits.
What are barriers to discussing emotions?
It takes too much time It is too draining The interview will get out of control I cannot fix it for the patient It is not my job Perceived conflicts of interest
Define efficiency
- “Efficiency” is the duration of the visit and the total amount of time required to address the patient’s concerns
- Taking a few extra minutes to address emotions during a visit, if a plus if it diminishes fewer phone calls and unscheduled visits
Identify the therapeutic language of empathy
- Reflection
- Validation
- Support
- Partnership
- Respect
Define reflection and give an example
- Name the emotion you see and reflecting it back to the patient
- Chance to deal with the emotion directly and then proceed with the interview
- Treat the emotion as a differential diagnosis
- “You seem upset.”
Define validation and give an example
- Inform the patient that you understand the reason for the emotion
- Normalizing the emotion and making the patient feel less isolated
- Validation of feelings emphasizes that the patient & MD are equals in the human condition, although they have different roles in the therapeutic relationship
- “I can understand your anger with the callous way you were treated.”
Define support and give an example
- This tells patients that the physician cares about hem and is willing to be present to their emotions
A. Nonverbal or verbal
-Offering a tissue to a crying patient, touching a patient’s hand
-“It’s pretty normal to get angry with children when they act out” - Reassure them that they are not alone with an uncomfortable emotion
- “You are doing very well handling your grief.”
Define partnership and give an example
- Team approach
- Working together towards the same goal
- Helps motivate patients to take an active role towards behavior change
- Use the pronouns “we” and “us”
- “Perhaps we can work together to make you feel better.”
Define respect and give an example
- Skills that honor the emotional resources within a patient
- You might not always know what it would like to be the patient, but you can still acknowledge the patient’s experience nonetheless
- “You have tremendous compassion for your siblings.”
Define non-verbal expressions of empathy
Emotional intelligence includes the capacity to interpret other’s emotions
What are some ways of expressing non-verbal empathy?
Sitting down while talking to the patient – patient feels MD spent more time with them
Smiling, shaking hands, and nodding as patient speaks – enhances rapport
Eye contact – impeded with EMR
