Empatía médica en residentes y tutores de medicina familiar y comunitaria. La visión del profesional y del paciente / Clinical empathy among family and community medicine residents and tutors. The view of physicians and patients

OBJETIVO: Determinar el grado de empatía de residentes y tutores de medicina de familia. Saber si existe relación entre la empatía autopercibida por los médicos y la valorada por sus pacientes. DISEÑO: Estudio observacional transversal mediante encuesta. Emplazamiento: Unidad Docente de Atención Primaria, Madrid. PARTICIPANTES: Se envió una encuesta por correo electrónico a todos los tutores y residentes de familia de la Unidad Docente. Respondieron 50 residentes (39,4%) y 41 tutores (45%). Un total de 428 pacientes fueron captados de forma oportunista en un Centro de Salud. Se entrevistó a sus médicos. Mediciones principales: La empatía se midió mediante la Escala de Empatía Médica de Jefferson y la Escala de Percepciones de los Pacientes sobre la Empatía Médica de Jefferson. RESULTADOS: Los tutores puntuaron 2,53 puntos más alto en empatía cognitiva que los residentes (p = 0,04). Las puntuaciones de la empatía emocional de los tutores son menores en aquellos de mayor edad (r = -0,32; p < 0,05). Los residentes españoles (el 82%) y sin experiencia laboral previa puntuaron más alto en empatía global (p = 0,02). Los residentes de último año obtuvieron calificaciones significativamente más bajas en empatía que el resto de sus compañeros. Se observó correlación positiva (r = 0,72; p = 0,01) entre la autopercepción de la empatía del profesional y la referida por sus pacientes. CONCLUSIONES: Los residentes con experiencia profesional previa, los de último año de residencia y los de origen latinoamericano presentan puntuaciones más bajas de empatía. Existe fuerte relación entre la empatía autopercibida por los médicos y la visión que sus pacientes tienen sobre la misma

AIM: To determine the degree of clinical empathy among family medicine residents and tutors. To gauge whether there is a relationship between physicians' self-perceived empathy levels and their patients' assessments. Study design: Observational, cross-sectional survey. LOCATION: Primary Care Teaching Unit. Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: A survey was sent by email to all the Teaching Unit's family medicine tutors and residents. Responses were received from 50 residents (39.4%) and 41 tutors (45%). In addition, 428 patients were opportunistically recruited at a healthcare centre and their doctors were also interviewed. Primary measurement instruments: Empathy was measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy. RESULTS: The tutors scored 2.53 points higher for cognitive empathy than the residents (P = .04). Emotional empathy scores declined among older tutors (r = -0.32; P = .05). The Spanish students (82% of the total) without previous work experience scored higher for overall empathy (P = .02). Final-year residents recorded significantly worse empathy assessments than the other residents. A positive correlation (r = 0.72; P = .01) was observed between physicians' self-perceived empathy and their patients' perceptions. CONCLUSIONS: Residents with previous work experience, final-year residents and those of Latin American origin score lower for empathy. There is a strong relationship between physicians' self-perceived empathy and their patients' views of their empathy levels

[Clinical empathy among family and community medicine residents and tutors. The view of physicians and patients]. / Empatía médica en residentes y tutores de medicina familiar y comunitaria. La visión del profesional y del paciente.

AIM: To determine the degree of clinical empathy among family medicine residents and tutors. To gauge whether there is a relationship between physicians' self-perceived empathy levels and their patients' assessments. STUDY DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional survey. LOCATION: Primary Care Teaching Unit. Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: A survey was sent by email to all the Teaching Unit's family medicine tutors and residents. Responses were received from 50 residents (39.4%) and 41 tutors (45%). In addition, 428 patients were opportunistically recruited at a healthcare centre and their doctors were also interviewed. PRIMARY MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS: Empathy was measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy. RESULTS: The tutors scored 2.53 points higher for cognitive empathy than the residents (P=.04). Emotional empathy scores declined among older tutors (r= -0.32; P=.05). The Spanish students (82% of the total) without previous work experience scored higher for overall empathy (P=.02). Final-year residents recorded significantly worse empathy assessments than the other residents. A positive correlation (r=0.72; P=.01) was observed between physicians' self-perceived empathy and their patients' perceptions. CONCLUSIONS: Residents with previous work experience, final-year residents and those of Latin American origin score lower for empathy. There is a strong relationship between physicians' self-perceived empathy and their patients' views of their empathy levels.