Medical students' views regarding the role of empathy in patient-physician interactions

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study:

A Q Method study was employed to investigate the underlying views medical students medical students have regarding the role of empathy in patient-physician interaction. Fifty-six students enrolled in Oklahoma State University's Center for Health Sciences volunteered to participate in the study.

Findings and Conclusions:

The views of the participants in this study share common elements, yet differ in several important aspects. The emerging patterns of views among the medical students who participated in this study revealed insight into the underlying structure of the empathy construct. The findings reveal that there are three potential viewpoints identified as Empathic Connection, Empathic Support, and Empathic Communication. While the viewpoints have unique differences, the study revealed that all participants agree that the role of empathy is important in patient-physician interactions. The study found that it might be more appropriate to describe empathy using frameworks that include all the components of empathy.