Patients benefi ts from physicians empathy and results of including of empathy development into medical training.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:  The extent of empathy is an individual human property, not completely dependent on cognitive intelligence. People arise with certain genetic fundament for empathy but the ability to perceive empathically develops further during the life. There has been much discussion in the medical literature about the importance of empathy and physician communication style in medical practice. Empathy has been shown to have a very real positive eff ect on patients outcomes. The literature suggests that empathy training is warranted and should be incorporated into surgical residencies through didactics, role-playing and simulations, and apprenticeship to empathic attending role models. PURPOSE: This paper reviews empathy and its importance as it pertains to the physician-patient relationship and improving patients outcomes, and the need for increased education in empathy during medical training.