Empatia (parte I): contribuições para a abordagem centrada na pessoa / Empathy (part I): contributions to a person-centered approach / Empatía (parte I): contribuciones a un enfoque centrado en la persona

Introdução: Este artigo explora o tema da empatia na relação médico-paciente. Objetivo: Contribuir para o aperfeiçoamento das habilidades de comunicação clínica ao revisar o entendimento e a aplicação da empatia na prática clínica. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão não sistemática dos principais livros utilizados na comunicação clínica sobre o tema da empatia. O recorte metodológico compreendeu as seguintes etapas: (1) amostra intencional da literatura; (2) coleta e leitura de dados ­ i.e., extração de fragmentos dos textos; (3) análise do conteúdo, com o foco na definição, importância e instrumentalização para a aplicação prática; (4) seleção e síntese, para facilitar a compreensão e a contextualização sobre o tema; e (5) comparação e ponderação do conteúdo selecionado. Resultados: A abrangência com que a empatia foi trabalhada na literatura selecionada resultou em três níveis de densidade empática: baixa, moderada e alta. Assim, a baixa densidade empática limitou-se mais à definição e importância do tema; a densidade moderada incorporou algum exemplo de como aplicar a empatia, porém de forma fragmentada; e a alta densidade empática abordou o tema de modo mais completo, facilitando a instrumentalização na prática clínica. Há concordância na literatura analisada de que a prática da empatia reflete-se na melhoria do cuidado médico, entretanto seu exercício permanece no campo racional. Ao exemplificar a aplicação prática da empatia, os autores sugerem que o médico adote uma postura isenta de julgamentos, ao mesmo tempo que propõem um exercício imaginativo, de adivinhação dos sentimentos/emoções do paciente. Apesar de os autores de alta densidade empática compreenderem a importância das emoções e nomeá-las no processo, percebe-se a necessidade de um desdobramento e aprofundamento a partir desse ponto. Conclusões: Por se tratar de um assunto complexo, com vários matizes, a empatia é abordada de diferentes formas na literatura selecionada. Isso evidencia sua riqueza e originalidade, ao mesmo tempo que apresenta lacunas para sua aplicação na prática clínica.

Introduction: This article explores the theme of empathy in the doctor-patient relationship. Objective: To contribute to the improvement of clinical communication skills by reviewing the understanding and application of empathy in clinical practice. Methods: A non-systematic review of the main books used in clinical communication on the topic of empathy. The methodological approach consisted in the following steps: (1) An intentional sample of the literature; (2) Data collection and reading, i.e., extracting fragments from texts; (3) Content analysis, focusing on definition, importance and instrumentalization for practical application; (4) Selection and synthesis to facilitate understanding and contextualization on the topic; and (5) Comparison and ponderance of the selected content. Results: The scope within which empathy was worked on in the selected literature resulted in three levels of empathic density: low, moderate, and high. Thus, low empathic density was limited to definition and importance; moderate density incorporated some examples of how to apply empathy in a fragmented way; high empathic density addressed the topic more fully, facilitating instrumentation in clinical practice. There is agreement in the literature analyzed that the practice of empathy reflects on the improvement of medical care. However, its exercise remains in the rational field. By exemplifying the practical application of empathy, the authors suggest that the physician adopt a non-judgmental posture, while proposing an imaginative exercise of guessing the patient's feelings/emotions. Although high-density empathy authors understand the importance of emotions and name them in the process, there is a need for an unfolding and deepening from this point on. Conclusions: Empathy is a complex subject with several nuances and is approached in different ways in the selected literature. This evidences its richness and originality, at the same time that it presents gaps for the application of empathy in clinical practice.

Introducción: Este artículo explora el tema de la empatía en la relación médico-paciente. Objetivo: contribuir a la mejora de las habilidades de comunicación clínica mediante la revisión de la comprensión y aplicación de la empatía en la práctica clínica. Método: se trata de una revisión no sistemática de los principales libros utilizados en comunicación clínica sobre el tema de la empatía. El enfoque metodológico comprendió los siguientes pasos: (1) Una muestra intencional de la literatura; (2) Recopilación y lectura de datos, es decir, extracción de fragmentos de textos; (3) Análisis de contenido, centrándose en definición, importancia e instrumentalización para la aplicación práctica; (4) Selección y síntesis para facilitar la comprensión y contextualización sobre el tema; y (5) Comparación y ponderación del contenido seleccionado. Resultados: el alcance con el que se trabajó la empatía en la literatura seleccionada tuvo como resultado tres niveles de densidad empática: baja, moderada y alta. Así, la baja densidad empática se limitaba más a la definición y la importancia; densidad moderada, incorporó algún ejemplo de cómo aplicar la empatía, pero de manera fragmentada; alta densidad empática se acercó del tema de manera más completa, facilitando la instrumentación en la práctica clínica. Existe acuerdo en la literatura analizada en que la práctica de la empatía se refleja en la mejora de la atención médica. Sin embargo, su ejercicio queda en el campo racional. Al ejemplificar la aplicación práctica de la empatía, los autores sugieren que el médico adopte una postura no crítica, al tiempo que propone un ejercicio imaginativo de adivinar los sentimientos/emociones del paciente. Si bien los autores de alta densidad empática entienden la importancia de las emociones y las nombran en el proceso, existe la necesidad de un desdoblamiento y profundización a partir de este punto. Conclusiones: Por tratarse de un tema complejo y con varios matices, la empatía es abordada de diferentes maneras en la literatura seleccionada. Esto evidencia su riqueza y originalidad, al mismo tiempo que presenta vacíos para la aplicación de la empatía en la práctica clínica.

Experiências no acesso e cuidado de populações vulnerabilizadas na atenção primária: Brasil, Chile, Colômbia e Peru / Experiences in access and care for vulnerable populations in primary care: Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru

Combater as desigualdades e iniquidades em saúde exige uma abordagem abrangente e colaborativa. Para tal, é necessário investir em sistemas universais de saúde, acessíveis e de qualidade, com foco na população vulnerabilizada. Políticas públicas efetivas devem ser implementadas para abordar as disparidades socioeconômicas, de gênero e étnicas, que afetam a saúde das pessoas. Nesse sentido, as Experiências Latino-americanas podem ser bem diferentes considerando a organização dos sistemas de saúde, mas que precisam ser conhecidas pensando nos desafios de desenvolvimento econômico e social no "Sul Global". Esta obra está organizada em três partes. A primeira é composta por três capítulos iniciais que trazem perspectivas de análise para o tema da desigualdade e das iniquidades em saúde na América Latina e o Caribe, a categoria "questão social" enquanto expressão das desigualdades e política social de saúde brasileira e o tema sobre as vulnerabilidades, a determinação social e a APS. Os capítulos visam contribuir para o debate mais conceitual, como pano de fundo para o livro. A segunda parte é composta por sete capítulos que abordam experiências do território nacional, e a terceira é formada por cinco capítulos que abordam experiências internacionais nos países de Chile, Colômbia e Perú. Esperamos que esta obra se constitua como um recurso educativo para pesquisadores, profissionais de saúde, gestores e formuladores de políticas, promovendo reflexões coletivas, críticas e profundas sobre o que é e o que deveria ser a APS no contexto sociopolítico latino-americano e caribenho de hoje e como poderia contribuir para reduzir disparidades e iniquidades em saúde.

Implementation of a hospital-based end-of-life and bereavement care program in a latin American middle-income country. A source of light and compassion in the midst of cloudy times.

BACKGROUND: The death of a child is one of the most devastating events a family can face, resulting in significant physical and psychosocial morbidity. Bereavement support programs have been developed in high-income contexts to address this need. However, little is known about implementing bereavement programs in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Here, we describe the implementation of a bereavement program for parents whose children died due to cancer or other catastrophic illnesses. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis to describe the implementation of a hospital-based End of Life (EoL) care and bereavement program. This program was developed in several stages, including an assessment of bereaved families, development program guidelines, staff training, piloting of the program, refinement, and standardization. The program was developed between 2019 and 2021 in a nonprofit, teaching hospital and referral center for southwestern Colombia. RESULTS: Several tools were developed as key components of the bereavement program: a virtual bereavement course; guidance for EoL and bereavement communication and care, memory making, and follow-up calls; a condolence letter template, and group support workshops. A total of 956 healthcare professionals were trained, 258 follow-up calls to bereaved parents were made, 150 individual psychological follow-ups to parents with complicated grief occurred, 79 condolence letters were sent, and 10 support group workshops were carried out. Challenges were identified and overcome, such as limited resources and staff, and cultural perceptions of death. In 2021, this program received an award by the hospital as the Best Strategy to Humanize Healthcare. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the feasibility of developing and implementing EoL and bereavement care programs for parents and families within hospitals in LMICs. Lack of resources, staff, and training are some of the identified challenges to implementation. Utilizing methodological tools allows us to identify facilitator factors and deliverable outcomes of our EoL and bereavement program. This model provides a valuable framework for resource-limited settings.

Parasympathetic regulation and support from family and friends predict prosocial development in U.S. Mexican-origin adolescents.

Both parasympathetic nervous system regulation and receipt of social support from close relationships contribute to prosocial development, although few studies have examined their combined influences in adolescence and particularly within racially and ethnically minoritized populations. In this longitudinal study of 229 U.S. Mexican-origin adolescents (48% female-identifying), youths reported on receipt of social support from family and friends from 10 to 16 years, had their baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) measured at 17 years, reported their prosocial behavior and completed the Mind in the Eyes test to assess cognitive empathy at 17 and 19 years, and reported their prosocial civic behavior (i.e., community activity) at 19 years. Family social support predicted prosocial behavior at 17 years, and friend social support predicted prosocial civic behavior at 19 years. Compared to youths with lower or higher baseline RSA, youths with moderate RSA reported more prosocial civic behavior, had greater cognitive empathy, and tended to report more general prosocial behavior at 19 years. The quadratic association between baseline RSA and cognitive empathy was stronger for youths with greater family social support. These findings are the first to extend the evidence that moderate baseline parasympathetic nervous system activity supports prosocial development into late adolescence and with the U.S. Mexican-origin community, and these findings address calls for more integrative biopsychosocial studies of prosociality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Subjective body-related experiences, and perception of the interventions and empathy of the healthcare team in adolescents with overweight. / Vivencias subjetivas relativas al cuerpo, percepción respecto a las intervenciones y empatía del equipo de salud en adolescentes con exceso de peso.

Introduction. Overweight adolescents are confronted daily with stereotypes that condition their body image, self-esteem, and mood. Objectives. To describe, in adolescents with overweight, the subjective experiences related to the body in daily life and their perceptions regarding the interventions and empathy of the health team. Population and methods. Descriptive study with qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescents aged 11 to 18 years with selfreported mass index (BMI) ≥ 26 and referring to medical or nutritional follow-up for overweight, attended at the Adolescence Service of a hospital in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, between October 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022. Results. Twenty adolescents were evaluated, with a median age of 13.5 years, most of them from female sex (16/20). All reported body dissatisfaction from an early age (median age: 10 years old). They mention difficulty dressing due to the lack of different sizes; they even limit sports practice. They suffered weight- related body humiliation at school, in the family, or public (15/20). They perceived weight control in a dual way: weight loss was the primary stimulus for treatment, but its centrality in the consultations generated discomfort. The leading causes of therapeutic abandonment were the impossibility of temporarily sustaining the recommendations and the lack of weight loss. The treating team was willing to listen to the patients but needed to understand their daily experiences, physical, material, esthetic, social conditioning, beliefs, and perceptions. Conclusion. The adolescents included in this study perceived specific interventions of the healthcare team as beneficial, with empathic deficiencies.

Introducción. Adolescentes con exceso de peso confrontan a diario con estereotipos que condicionan su imagen corporal, autoestima y ánimo. Objetivos. Describir, en adolescentes con exceso de peso, las vivencias subjetivas relativas al cuerpo en la vida diaria y sus percepciones respecto a las intervenciones y empatía del equipo de salud. Población y métodos. Estudio descriptivo con enfoque cualitativo. Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a adolescentes entre 11 y 18 años con índice de masa corporal (IMC) ≥ 26 autorreferenciado y/o que refirieran seguimiento médico o nutricional por exceso de peso, asistidos en el Servicio de Adolescencia de un hospital de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, entre el 1 de octubre de 2021 y el 31 de mayo de 2022. Resultados. Se evaluaron 20 adolescentes, con mediana de edad de 13,5 años, mayoritariamente de sexo femenino (16/20). La totalidad refirió insatisfacción corporal desde edades tempranas (edad mediana: 10 años). Mencionan dificultad para vestirse por falta de talles; limitan incluso la práctica deportiva. Padecieron humillación corporal relacionada con el peso en la escuela, la familia o la vía pública (15/20). Percibieron el control de peso de manera dual: su descenso fue el principal estímulo del tratamiento, pero su centralidad en las consultas generó malestar. Las principales causas de abandono terapéutico fueron la imposibilidad de sostener temporalmente las recomendaciones y la falta de descenso de peso. Se percibió del equipo tratante buena predisposición y escucha, pero cierta incomprensión sobre las vivencias cotidianas, condicionamientos físicos, materiales, estéticos, sociales, de sus creencias y percepciones. Conclusión. Percibieron beneficiosas ciertas intervenciones del equipo de salud, con falencias empáticas.

Mexican American Intergenerational Research: Transformative Model of Occupational Therapy.

Thirty-seven interviews of Mexican American women who crossed the border into the United States during the era of the Mexican Revolution of 1910 were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methods. The intent is to expand the occupational therapy profession's occupational consciousness and cultivate cultural humility. Four themes emerged from the data: suffering, work, yearning for an education, and compassion for others. The findings suggest that environmental barriers such as hierarchy (patriarchy and discrimination) and physical barriers (limited access to built environments, lack of nonexploitative work opportunities, and hostile educational institutions) prevented occupational participation. Small acts of resistance through everyday living (finding joy, playing, self-sufficiency, and community organizing) were identified as facilitators of occupational participation. The research findings challenge proposed assumptions found within the occupational therapy literature: (1) humans and occupations exist as separate from their environments, and (2) work, productivity, and leisure contribute positively to health. The Transformative Model of Occupational Therapy is introduced as a decolonized framework that inextricably links individual health to community and global health. The model centers play, social participation, work, and education as occupations that contribute to the common good. These occupations are kept in equilibrium within the Four Pillars of Culture (self-determination, compassion, sustainability, and language) or the cultural values identified and derived from the stories.

Is there an association among spirituality, resilience and empathy in medical students?

BACKGROUND: Spirituality has religious and nonreligious dimensions and is often linked to well-being, positive emotions, connection and meaning in life. Both empathy and resilience are important in medical training and future professional practice since they are considered core skills related to professionalism and patient care. Our study aimed to understand the relationships among spirituality, resilience, and empathy in medical students. We also aimed to determine whether there are differences by gender and between medical students in different years of a medical program. METHODS: Medical students (n = 1370) of the first to fourth years of a six-year medical program, from six medical schools, completed questionnaires to assess empathy (Jefferson Empathy Scale and Davis Multidimensional Interpersonal Reactivity Scale) and resilience (Wagnild & Young Scale) and to rate their spirituality. RESULTS: Medical students with high spirituality showed higher scores for both resilience and empathy (p < 0.001). In addition, we observed higher levels of both spirituality and empathy, but not resilience, in female medical students than in male medical students. In contrast, we did not detect significant differences in spirituality, empathy, or resilience between students in different years of medical school. CONCLUSION: Medical students with high levels of spirituality have also higher scores for both empathy and resilience. Spirituality, empathy and resilience have similar values for students in different years of a medical program.

Physicians' attention to patients' communication cues can improve patient satisfaction with care and perception of physicians' empathy.

BACKGROUND: The pathway that links good communication skills and better health outcomes is still unclear. However, it is known that the way that physicians and patients communicate with each other has direct consequences on more "proximal outcomes", such as perceptions of physician empathy and patient satisfaction. However, which specific communication skills lead to those patient outcomes is still unknown. In this study, the authors aimed to analyze which specific patient and physician communication skills are correlated to patients' satisfaction with care and patient-perceived physician empathy. METHODS: The authors classified and quantified verbal and nonverbal communication of second-year internal medicine residents and their patients through video recordings of their consultations. Patients also rated their satisfaction with care and the physician's empathy for them. RESULTS: Using a linear regression model, the authors identified that patients' and physicians' expressions of disapproval, physicians' disruptions, and patients' use of content questions negatively correlated to patients' satisfaction and patient-perceived physician empathy. Conversely, patient affective behaviors and the physician's provision of advice/suggestion were positively correlated to at least one of the patient-measured outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our findings point to the importance of physicians' attentiveness to patients' communication cues. Training physicians to interpret those cues could help develop more satisfactory and empathic therapeutic relationships.

Lesbian and bisexual couples experiencing dual motherhood: (dis)encounters in the provision of healthcare. / Casais de mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais que vivenciam a dupla maternidade: (des)encontros na produção do cuidado em saúde.

The bond with healthcare services is a crucial dimension in facilitating the maternal journey of lesbian and bisexual women couples. This study aimed to analyze the culturally constructed meanings regarding the bond with healthcare services and professionals by lesbian and bisexual women who experienced dual motherhood. It is a qualitative investigation grounded in interpretative anthropology. The research corpus was built based on in-depth interviews with 10 lesbian and bisexual women, aged 30 to 39 years. The results indicate that access to parenthood, until its realization, involved a journey permeated by satisfactions and sufferings triggered by failed attempts and gestational losses. Challenges experienced in healthcare provision were also reported due to prejudices, lack of empathy, and unpreparedness of professionals in dealing with prenatal care for lesbian and bisexual women couples. Manifestations of discrimination were more pronounced concerning non-gestational mothers. The findings offer insights into implementing policies that prioritize humanization and planning programs and healthcare services based on culturally sensitive care for lesbian and bisexual women couples as they transition into dual motherhood.

O vínculo com os serviços de saúde é uma dimensão crucial para viabilizar o projeto materno de casais de mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar os significados culturalmente construídos sobre o vínculo com os serviços e profissionais de saúde por mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais que vivenciaram a dupla maternidade. Investigação qualitativa fundamentada na antropologia interpretativa. O corpus de pesquisa foi construído com base em entrevista em profundidade com 10 mulheres de 30 a 39 anos. Os resultados mostram que o acesso à parentalidade implicou um itinerário permeado por satisfações e sofrimentos devido a tentativas frustradas e perdas gestacionais. Também foram relatados percalços vivenciados na produção do cuidado em saúde devido a preconceitos, falta de empatia e despreparo de profissionais para lidarem com acompanhamento de pré-natal aos casais de mulheres lésbicas/bissexuais. As manifestações de discriminação foram mais contundentes em relação às mães não gestantes. Os resultados oferecem subsídios para implementação de políticas de humanização e planejamento de programas e serviços de saúde baseados em cuidados culturalmente sensíveis à diversidade para casais de mulheres lésbicas/bissexuais que vivenciam a transição para a maternidade.

Empathic attitude of dental students from a peruvian public University associated with reading Habit: a regression analysis / Actitud empática de los estudiantes de odontología de una Universidad pública peruana asociado al hábito de lectura: un análisis de regresión

Abstract The present study aims to identify the empathic attitude of dental students from a Peruvian public university, about their reading habits, as well as the level of studies and other sociodemographic variables. 226 first-, fourth-, and sixth-year students registered in the academic year 2022 were enrolled in the study. The Jefferson Empathy scale, which included 20 items, was used with a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 7, i.e., from totally disagree to totally agree. A file containing questions about the sociodemographic data registry was prepared together with the Jefferson Empathy questionnaire. It was found that the profile of the students was mainly feminine, and the average age was 22 years; they came from Lima. They had the habit of reading and a little more than half of the group did not participate in sports activities. The "adequate" level of empathy was the highest (51.77%). By dichotomizing the response variable, it was found that adequate empathy was related to the habit of reading, especially reading dental books. Dental students from this public university mostly have an adequate level of empathy; it is independent of the sociodemographic variables but is related to reading habits.

Resumen En el presente estudio se planteó identificar la actitud empática de los estudiantes de odontología de una universidad pública peruana en relación al hábito de lectura así como al nivel de estudios y variables sociodemográficas. Se consideró a 226 estudiantes de primero, cuarto y sexto año matriculados en el año académico 2022. Se utilizó la escala de empatía de Jefferson que consta de 20 ítems, y cuyas categorías de respuesta val del 1 al 7 que significa totalmente en desacuerdo a totalmente de acuerdo. Se elaboró una ficha que además contenía una primera parte para llenar de acuerdo a sus datos sociodemográficos. Se encontró que el perfil de los estudiantes perteneció al sexo femenino, con una media de 22 años, procedían de Lima, presentaban el hábito de lectura y un poco más de la mitad del grupo no realizan actividades deportivas. El nivel de empatía adecuado fue el más alto (51.77%). Al dicotomizar la variable respuesta se encontro que la empatía adecuada estuvo relacionada con el hábito de lectura y con la lectura de libros de odontología. Se concluye que los estudiantes de odontología de esta universidad pública tienen mayormente nivel de empatía adecuado y que es independiente de las variables sociodemográficas pero se encuentra relacionado a los hábitos de lectura.

Spanish version of Multidimensional Mentalizing Questionnaire (MMQ): Translation, adaptation and psychometric properties in a Chilean population.

This paper presents the first translation and adaptation of the Multidimensional Mentalizing Questionnaire (MMQ) into Spanish for a native Spanish-speaking sample in Chile. The study examines the psychometric properties and internal consistency of the translated MMQ. The instrument undergoes modifications based on a confirmatory factor analysis of the original structure, resulting in the elimination of items with cross-loadings and improvement in model fit. The modified scale is then analyzed, demonstrating strong psychometric properties. Convergent evidence is assessed by correlating MMQ subscales with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Empathy Quotient (EQ), while divergent evidence is assessed by correlating aggressive traits using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). The study also explores gender differences and age. Results reveal positive correlations between good mentalizing and empathy, particularly cognitive empathy, supporting the significance of positive mentalization in empathy. Negative mentalization is associated with difficulties in perspective-taking and social skills, as well as aggressive traits. Gender differences in mentalizing capacities are observed, and negative aspects of mentalization decrease with age. The availability of the Spanish translation of the MMQ, the first self-reporting scale measuring mentalization adapted to Chilean population, contributes to research aiming to understand its relationship with other psychological phenomena in different cultural context and facilitating clinical interventions with different population groups. We therefore encourage further investigation into cultural, gender and age differences in mentalization.

Aspects that facilitate access to care for viral hepatitis: An evaluative research.

BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is a major public health concern worldwide. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the factors that facilitate access to care for viral hepatitis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Using a sequential mixed method, this evaluation research was conducted in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. METHODS: Mapping of references and selection of regions were made based on the quantity and heterogeneity of services. The stakeholders, including the managers of the State Department of Health and professionals from reference services, were identified. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted using content analysis and discussions guided by the dimensions of the analysis model of universal access to health services. RESULTS: In the political dimension, decentralizing services and adhering to the Intermunicipal Health Consortium are highly encouraged. In the economic-social dimension, a commitment exists to allocate public funds for the expansion of referral services and subsidies to support users in their travel for appointments, medications, and examinations. In the organizational dimension, the availability of inputs for testing, definition of user flow, ease of scheduling appointments, coordination by primary care in testing, collaboration following the guidelines and protocols, and engagement in extramural activities are guaranteed. In the technical dimension, professionals actively commit to the service and offer different opening hours, guarantee the presence of an infectious physician, expand training opportunities, and establish intersectoral partnerships. In the symbolic dimension, professionals actively listen to the experiences of users throughout their care trajectory and demonstrate empathy. CONCLUSIONS: The results are crucial for improving comprehensiveness, but necessitate managerial efforts to enhance regional governance.

People in Ecuador and the United States conceptualize compassion differently: The role of avoided negative affect.

Even people from frequently studied cultural contexts differ in how they conceptualize compassion, partly because of differences in how much they want to avoid feeling negative. To broaden this past work, we include participants from an understudied cultural context and start to examine the process through which culture shapes compassion. Based on ethnographic and empirical studies that include Ecuadorians, we predicted that Ecuadorians would want to avoid feeling negative less compared to U.S. Americans. Furthermore, we hypothesized that because of these differences in avoided negative affect, compared to U.S. Americans, for Ecuadorians, a compassionate response would contain more emotion sharing, which in turn would be associated with conceptualizing a compassionate face as one that mirrors sadness more and expresses happiness (e.g., a kind smile) less. Using a reverse correlation task, participants in the United States and Ecuador selected the stimuli that most resembled a compassionate face. They also reported how much they wanted to avoid feeling negative and described what a compassionate response would entail. As predicted, compared to U.S. Americans, Ecuadorians wanted to avoid feeling negative less, they conceptualized a compassionate response as one that focused more on emotion sharing, and visualized a compassionate face as one that contained more sadness and less happiness. Furthermore, exploratory analyses suggest that wanting to avoid feeling negative and conceptualizations of a compassionate response as emotion sharing partly sequentially explained the cultural differences in conceptualizations of a compassionate face. What people regard as compassionate differs across cultures, which has important implications for cross-cultural counseling. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effects of empathy training on psychological concerns and empathy in caregivers of older people: A randomized, double-blind, crossover, clinical trial with follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of empathy training on psychological concerns and empathy in caregivers of older people. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, crossover, clinical trial with follow-up was conducted online. Thirty paid and unpaid caregivers of older people from different regions of Brazil participated in an empathy training program. The caregivers answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and measures for the evaluation of empathy (affective and cognitive domains), burden, the impact of providing care as well as depressive symptoms and psychiatric symptoms before and immediately after training. Empathy and its domains were also assessed at three post-intervention follow-ups. RESULTS: Empathy training diminished levels of psychological concerns. Moreover, an increase was found in levels of cognitive empathy 15, 30 and 60 days after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Empathy training with a focus on cognitive empathy diminished psychological concerns in caregivers of older people and increased the levels of this ability over time. This intervention can be considered a coping strategy for negative impacts related to providing care. CLINICA LTRIAL REGISTRATION: RBR-8kjtfx3.

Empathic Care of Neonates: A Critical Literature Review.

Clinical empathy is a multidimensional ability to feel the patient's suffering, branched into components such as cognitive, emotional, and action, which results in benefits for patients, parents, health professionals, medical students, and others. The authors performed a critical review of the literature about empathy in neonatal care, in 2 databases, and analyzed the co-occurrence of keywords in the last 10 years. Nine articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. They highlight the interconnection between empathy, communication, ethics, and palliative care. Empathy was analyzed in situations that included pain, death, and suffering in the neonate, especially related to critically ill neonates. Strategies such as self-reflection and digital storytelling may help increase the clinical empathy education of health professionals. There are gaps in research considering the measurement of clinical empathy in neonatal care, and this measurement should be encouraged. To change care practices, education on empathy for health professionals, especially physicians, should be improved.

Avaliação do protocolo de biossegurança na pandemia em uma clínica odontológica de ensino na perspectiva do paciente / Evaluación del protocolo de bioseguridad en la pandemia en una clínica de enseñanza odontológica desde la perspectiva del paciente / Evaluation of the pandemic biosafety protocol in a dental clinic from the patient's perspective

This study aimed to assess whether patients feel safe or anxious when receiving dental care at a teaching clinic; the study was carried out from the perspective of patients, given the biosafety protocol during the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Thiscross-sectional study was carried out with 217 patients assisted by students in the Dental Clinic of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, humanization and the safety protocols followed during care. Multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression (PR), and p values ≤0.05 were understood. Around 90% of patients reported that students were attentive, communicative, welcoming and confident during treatment about the risk of contracting COVID-19 during care. Patients who showed anxiety during treatment were 32.2%. Some patients were unable to keep their distance in the waiting room (PR 3.439) and did not feel safe during the appointment (PR 2.64) had a higher prevalence of anxiety during dental care. Anxiety about care was associated with the individual's color or ethnicity, ability to maintain social distancing in the waiting room, and feeling safe when receiving care (AU).

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si los pacientes se sienten seguros o ansiosos al recibir atención odontológica en una clínica docente; el estudio se realizó desde la perspectiva de los pacientes, teniendo en cuenta el protocolo de bioseguridad durante la pandemia del Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Se trata de un estudio transversal realizado con 217 pacientes atendidos por estudiantes de la Clínica Odontológica de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Paraná. Se utilizó un cuestionario semiestructurado para recolectar datos sociodemográficos, humanización y protocolos de seguridad seguidos durante la atención. El análisis multivariado se realizó mediante regresión de Poisson (RP), con valores de p ≤0,05. Alrededor del 90% de los pacientes informaron que los estudiantes se mostraron atentos, comunicativos, acogedores y confiados durante el tratamiento sobre el riesgo de contraer COVID-19 durante el tratamiento. Los pacientes que demostraron ansiedad durante el tratamiento fueron el 32,2%. Algunos pacientes no pudieron mantener la distancia en la sala de espera (RP 3.439) y no se sintieron seguros durante la consulta (RP 2.64) y tuvieron mayor prevalencia de ansiedad durante la atención odontológica. La ansiedad con respecto a la atención se asoció con elcolor o el origen étnico del individuo, la capacidad de mantener el distanciamiento social en la sala de espera y sentirse seguro al recibir atención (AU).

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se os pacientes se sentem seguros ou ansiosos ao receber atendimento odontológico em uma clínica-escola; o estudo foi realizado sob a perspectiva dos pacientes, tendo em vista o protocolo de biossegurança durante a pandemia do Coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19). Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com 217 pacientes atendidos por estudantes da Clínica Odontológica da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná. Foi utilizado questionário semiestruturado para coletar dados sociodemográficos, sobre humanização e protocolos de segurança seguidos durante o atendimento. A análise multivariada foi realizada por meio de regressão de Poisson (RP), sendo compreendidos valores de p ≤0,05. Cerca de 90% dos pacientes relataram que os estudantes se mostraram atentos, comunicativos, acolhedores e confiantes durante o tratamento sobre o risco de contrair a COVID-19 durante o atendimento. Os pacientes que demonstraram ansiedade durante o tratamento foram 32,2%. Alguns pacientes não conseguiram manter distância na sala de espera (RP 3,439) e não se sentiram seguros durante a consulta (RP 2,64) tiveram maior prevalência de ansiedade durante o atendimento odontológico. A ansiedade em relação ao atendimento esteve associada à cor ou etnia do indivíduo, capacidade de manter distanciamento social na sala de espera e sentir-se seguro ao receber atendimento (AU).

Cuidado ás pessoas com agravos endocrinos e metabólicos / Care for people with endocrine and metabolic problems

O objetivo desse trabalho é descrever a sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem a pessoas com agravos endócrinos e metabólicos pautado na teoria de Calista Roy. Metodologia: Trata-se de um relato de experiência através da aplicação da Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem (SAE), voltado para pessoas com agravos endócrinos e metabólicos no contexto hospitalar. Resultados e discussão: Foi aplicado a teoria da adaptação nas seis fases da Teoria de Calista Roy e foi elaborado diagnósticos de enfermagem para os quatro modos de adaptação: fisiológico, interdependência, autoconceito e função de papel. Considerações finais: Ao aplicar a SAE no indivíduo com agravos endócrinos e metabólicos a enfermeira deve realizá-lo em todas as suas etapas, e utilizar os protocolos para oferecer um cuidado holístico e integral, visando a promoção da saúde, prevenção de risco potencial e adaptação diante das necessidades em saúde.(AU)

The aim of this study is to describe the systematization of nursing care for people with endocrine and metabolic disorders, based on Calista Roy's theory. Methodology: This is an experience report on the application of the Systematization of Nursing Care (SNC) to people with endocrine and metabolic disorders in a hospital setting. Results and discussion: The theory of adaptation was applied in the six phases of Calista Roy's theory and nursing diagnoses were drawn up for the four modes of adaptation: physiological, interdependence, self-concept and role function. Final considerations: When applying the SNC to individuals with endocrine and metabolic disorders, the nurse must carry it out in all its stages, and use the protocols to offer holistic and comprehensive care, aimed at promoting health, preventing potential risks and adapting to health needs.(AU)

El objetivo de este estudio es describir la sistematización de los cuidados de enfermería a personas con trastornos endocrinos y metabólicos, basándose en la teoría de Calista Roy. Metodología: Se trata de un informe de experiencia sobre la aplicación de la Sistematización de los Cuidados de Enfermería (SNC) a personas con trastornos endocrinos y metabólicos en un entorno hospitalario. Resultados y discusión: Se aplicó la teoría de la adaptación en las seis fases de la teoría de Calista Roy y se elaboraron diagnósticos de enfermería para los cuatro modos de adaptación: fisiológica, interdependencia, autoconcepto y función de rol. Consideraciones finales: Al aplicar el SNC a individuos con trastornos endocrinos y metabólicos, la enfermera debe llevarlo a cabo en todas sus fases, y utilizar los protocolos para ofrecer cuidados holísticos e integrales, dirigidos a promover la salud, prevenir riesgos potenciales y adaptarse a las necesidades de salud.(AU)

Empathy-related differences in the anterior cingulate functional connectivity of regular cannabis users when compared to controls.

It has been reported that cannabis consumption affects the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a structure with a central role in mediating the empathic response. In this study, we compared psychometric scores of empathy subscales, between a group of regular cannabis users (85, users) and a group of non-consumers (51, controls). We found that users have a greater Emotional Comprehension, a cognitive empathy trait involving the understanding of the "other" emotional state. Resting state functional MRI in a smaller sample (users = 46, controls = 34) allowed to identify greater functional connectivity (FC) of the ACC with the left somatomotor cortex (SMC), in users when compared to controls. These differences were also evident within the empathy core network, where users showed greater within network FC. The greater FC showed by the users is associated with emotional representational areas and empathy-related regions. In addition, the differences in psychometric scores suggest that users have more empathic comprehension. These findings suggest a potential association between cannabis use, a greater comprehension of the other's affective state and the functional brain organization of the users. However, further research is needed to explore such association, since many other factors may be at play.

Psychosocial adaptation under adverse experiences: A study on the role of empathy with adolescents from vulnerable contexts in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that affect children and adolescents, increasing the risk for negative outcomes in several developmental domains. The literature suggests that ACEs affect boys and girls differently, and that protective factors such as social and emotional skills may favor resilience processes and promote Psychosocial Adjustment. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to verify gender differences in relation to ACEs and Empathy, and to identify whether the effect of ACEs on Psychosocial Adjustment is moderated by Empathy. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A total of 1229 boys and girls aged 14 to 17 years from public schools in regions considered to be of high social vulnerability in two cities of Brazil participated in this study. METHODS: Comparisons between genders were carried out using a logistic regression model. We then fitted multiple regression models predicting Psychosocial Adjustment, where ACEs, Empathy, and an interaction term between ACEs and Empathy were employed as independent variables, controlled by gender. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that girls experience ACEs more often than boys (d = 0.26, p = 0.02; d = 0.36; p < 0.001), and score higher on the Empathy scale (d = 0.43, p < 0.001). The genders do not differ in Community Violence Exposure nor Psychosocial Adjustment levels. Interaction analysis showed that Empathy moderates the effect of ACEs on adolescents' level of Psychosocial Adjustment. In the context of close relationships, Empathy may counteract the effect of ACEs, while in cases involving domestic violence and/or psychological abuse, it may amplify the impact of ACEs. CONCLUSIONS: The results show the relevance of considering gender specificities and that the role played by Empathy is more complex and needs further investigation. We emphasize that programs and policies aiming to prevent ACEs and their harmful effects should consider its types, in addition to the diversity and the specificities of the target population.