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Kiviharju MJ, Gulash SK, Balsom AA, Gordon JL. Testing the efficacy of a narrative short film in educating the public about providing emotional support to individuals with fertility problems. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2024; 45:2378330. [PMID: 39007900 DOI: 10.1080/0167482x.2024.2378330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To educate the public on how best to support people with fertility problems, a narrative short film "Ten Things Not to Say to Someone Struggling with Infertility" was created, depicting the impact that helpful versus unhelpful dialogue has on someone with fertility problems. METHODS Before and after watching the video, 419 participants from the public were presented with a hypothetical vignette describing a woman experiencing fertility problems and asked about the likelihood that they would endorse a series of helpful and unhelpful statements when communicating with the protagonist. Pre and post endorsement of helpful versus unhelpful statements were compared, as were self-perceived knowledge about the mental health aspects of fertility problems, confidence in providing emotional support to someone with fertility problems, and empathy for the protagonist. RESULTS Participants endorsed fewer unhelpful statements after the video relative to before (M(SD) = 2.2(2.3) vs. 1.3(2.3), p < .001) and fewer participants endorsed at least one unhelpful statement (72% to 47%, p < .001). Self-perceived knowledge of fertility problems, confidence in providing support, and empathy increased at post-test (ps < .001; Cohen's d = .56-.83) indicating medium-large effects. CONCLUSIONS A narrative short film appears to be an effective dissemination strategy for sensitizing the public to the emotional struggles of individuals experiencing fertility problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maija J Kiviharju
- Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Sarah K Gulash
- Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Ashley A Balsom
- Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jennifer L Gordon
- Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Chua TXJ, Lopez V, Chua QWC, Lau ST. Impact of interprofessional education on empathy of pre-licensure healthcare students: A mixed-studies systematic review. NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 2024; 143:106380. [PMID: 39265272 DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the age of automation and technology, incorporating empathy in pre-licensure healthcare education is essential in providing empathic care to patients and co-workers. This can be achieved through interprofessional education (IPE). OBJECTIVE To consolidate evidence to evaluate interprofessional education's impact on pre-licensure healthcare students' empathy levels. DESIGN A mixed-studies systematic review following a convergent segregated approach. METHODS Ten electronic databases were searched from their inception until 30 November 2023. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies that explored the impact of IPE on the change in empathy level in pre-licensure healthcare students were reviewed. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed-Method Appraisal Tool. Findings from the qualitative and quantitative aspects were analysed and synthesized separately using thematic and narrative synthesis. The findings were integrated by convergent synthesis. RESULTS A total of 36 studies involving 3887 participants were included in this review, consisting of five quantitative, 14 qualitative and 17 mixed-methods studies. This review found that IPE enhanced the empathy level of students by improving their understanding of empathy and various empathic responses. Through IPE activities, students demonstrated empathy towards both patients and interprofessional peers. Three themes were generated through the synthesis of qualitative and quantitative results: (1) Empathy Awareness, (2) Internal Empathic Processes, and (3) Intentional Actions. The results showed that healthcare students exhibited empathic care behaviours towards patients and their interprofessional peers. CONCLUSION The findings of this review suggested that IPE was effective in improving awareness and knowledge of empathy and in providing empathy care to patients and interprofessional peers. This review encourages educators to implement IPE to pre-licensure healthcare students to increase their knowledge of the importance of providing empathic patient care and interprofessional empathy. Future research could explore more on the processes of interprofessional empathy in students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xuan Jolene Chua
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Level 5, Centre for Translational Medicine, Block MD6, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore 117599.
| | - Violeta Lopez
- School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Australia; School of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences, Holy Angel University, Philippines.
| | - Qi Wen Cheryl Chua
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Siew Tiang Lau
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Levett-Jones T, Brogan E, Debono D, Goodhew M, Govind N, Pich J, River J, Smith J, Sheppard-Law S, Cant R. Use and effectiveness of the arts for enhancing healthcare students' empathy skills: A mixed methods systematic review. NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 2024; 138:106185. [PMID: 38555825 DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify, critically appraise and synthesise evidence of the use and effectiveness of the arts for enhancing pre-registration/prelicensure healthcare students' empathy skills. DESIGN A systematic review of mixed methods literature. DATA SOURCES A search of six electronic databases was conducted. REVIEW METHODS Articles describing English language, peer-reviewed, primary research studies reporting empathy as an outcome of an arts-based intervention with pre-registration/prelicensure healthcare students (years 1-7) and published between 2000 and 2024 were eligible for inclusion. The JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis guided the review and a convergent segregated methodology was used to synthesise the results. Methodological rigour of included studies was examined using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS Twenty studies from 12 countries described the use of the arts to develop empathy, with visual arts being the most common approach (n = 8). Other modalities included film, drama, digital stories, literature, creative writing, music, poetry, photography and dance. Studies included nursing, medicine and dental, pharmacy and/or health sciences students. Ten studies used quantitative methods, three qualitative, and seven used mixed methods designs. Of the studies that presented pre-post outcome measures, nine reported significant gains in empathy scores at post-test and two reported non-significant gains in empathy. In eight studies, empathy scores demonstrated a significant intervention effect with effect sizes ranging from moderate (d = 0.52) to large (d = 1.19). Findings from qualitative studies revealed that arts pedagogies support students to better understand the perspectives of people with a lived experience of suffering but that these approaches are sometimes perceived negatively by students. CONCLUSIONS Arts interventions generally have a positive effect on healthcare students' empathy levels and enable a nuanced conceptual understanding of empathy. Arts modalities used as a stimulus for active learning and supported with facilitated group-based discussion and/or reflection, tend to be most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jo River
- University of Technology Sydney and Northern Sydney Local Health District, Australia.
| | | | | | - Robyn Cant
- Federation University Australia, Australia.
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Hernández-Xumet JE, García-Hernández AM, Fernández-González JP, Marrero-González CM. Exploring levels of empathy and assertiveness in final year physiotherapy students during clinical placements. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13349. [PMID: 38858441 PMCID: PMC11164891 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64148-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Empathy and assertiveness are two essential soft skills for any healthcare professional's competence and ethical development. It has been shown that empathy can be influenced throughout the training of a future healthcare professional, particularly during the clinical placement period. This research aims to assess fourth-year physiotherapy students' empathic and assertive development before and after clinical placement. A longitudinal observational study was conducted with fourth-year physiotherapy students during the academic year 2022/2023. A preliminary assessment of empathy and assertiveness levels was carried out before the start of the clinical placement and at the end of the placement using the Individual Reactivity Index to assess empathy and the Rathus Test to assess assertiveness. The results show a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in both the empathy subscales of perspective-taking and empathic-concern between the pre- and postassessment, as well as an inverse correlation between the empathy subscale of personal distress and assertiveness. It is concluded that students show adequate results in empathy and assertiveness. However, there is some influence of clinical practice on the development of empathy, and future intervention studies need to be considered. Furthermore, students with higher levels of assertiveness have lower levels of personal distress, suggesting that assertiveness is closely related to empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan-Elicio Hernández-Xumet
- Movement and Health Research Group, Departamento de Medicina Física y Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, Spain.
- Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Servicio Canario de La Salud, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
| | | | - Jerónimo-Pedro Fernández-González
- Movement and Health Research Group, Departamento de Medicina Física y Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, Spain
- Gerencia de Atención Primaria de Tenerife, Servicio Canario de La Salud, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Cristo-Manuel Marrero-González
- Movement and Health Research Group, Departamento de Medicina Física y Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, Spain
- Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna, Spain
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Del Barrio LG, Rodríguez-Díez C, Gea A, Arbea L, Pereira J, Díez N. Impact of a longitudinal course on medical professionalism on the empathy of medical students. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2024; 119:108042. [PMID: 37978022 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.108042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Medical education should enhance empathy. We examined, using self-assessment instruments and standardized patients (SPs), the impact on empathy, of a multi-year intervention (years 4-6 of medical training) that uses reflective learning approaches. METHODS 241 final-year medical students participated; 110 from the 2018 graduation class (non-intervention group) and 131 from the 2019 graduation class (intervention group). Participants completed two self-reported empathy questionnaires - the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Students (JSE-S) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) - and a personality questionnaire, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Additionally, SPs in a simulated station assessed participants' empathy with two patient-reported instruments: the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) scale and the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy (JSPPPE). RESULTS Empathy scores were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the non-intervention group when assessed by the SP (p < 0.001). No differences were found in self-reported questionnaires between the two groups. CONCLUSION A longitudinal, multi-year reflection-based intervention enhanced empathy amongst medical students as assessed by SPs, but not when assessed by student self-reported measures. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Multi-year reflective learning interventions during clinical training nurture empathy in medical students. Assessments completed by SPs or patients may enhance the evaluation of empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreto García Del Barrio
- Department of Radiology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Alfredo Gea
- Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Leire Arbea
- Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - José Pereira
- Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Canada
| | - Nieves Díez
- Department of Medical Education, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
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Salajegheh M, Sohrabpour AA, Mohammadi E. Exploring medical students' perceptions of empathy after cinemeducation based on Vygotsky's theory. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2024; 24:94. [PMID: 38287370 PMCID: PMC10823714 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05084-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical students' empathy toward patients with Alzheimer's is rarely found in formal medical curricula. Based on Vygotsky's theory, watching films and reflection can be considered as effective methods to improve empathy. The present study aimed to explore medical students' perceptions of empathy toward patients with Alzheimer after participating in an educational program by using interactive video based on Vygotsky's theory. METHODS This qualitative study was conducted at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2022. The population included all 40 medical students. Firstly, the Still Alice movie which is about the feelings of a professor who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease was shown to the students. Secondly, the students reflected on their experiences of watching the movie. Thirdly, a session was held for group discussion on the subject of the movie, the patient's feelings, the doctor's attitude, the social environment surrounding the patient shown in the movie, and the necessity of empathy toward patients with Alzheimer's disease. The reflection papers were analyzed using the conventional qualitative content analysis method. RESULTS After analyzing 216 codes from 38 reflection papers, four categories, including communication with a patient with Alzheimer's, understanding the patient with Alzheimer's as a whole, medical science development, and the student's individual ideology, were extracted. CONCLUSION Reflection and group discussion after watching movie by providing opportunities for social interaction about personal interpretations will lead to active role in enhancing empathy. Based on the perceptions of the medical students, they gained a perspective to consider the patient as a whole and pay attention to establishing a proper relationship with the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahla Salajegheh
- Department of Medical Education, Medical Education Development Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Amir Ali Sohrabpour
- Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elaheh Mohammadi
- Health Professions Education Research Center, Educational Development Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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van Houwelingen AH, Özaydin I, Wubbels T. An undergraduate course on pain: Its impact on students' empathy. CURRENTS IN PHARMACY TEACHING & LEARNING 2023; 15:559-567. [PMID: 37355385 DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Empathy towards patients in pain involves an internal process in which both affective and cognitive processes in the observer are responsible for a final behavioral reaction. This study investigated the impact of an undergraduate elective course on pain on students' empathy in a mixed-method design. METHODS Undergraduate students of the elective course on pain (intervention group) as well as undergraduate students of a compulsory course on neuropharmacology (control group) completed the Dutch version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) questionnaire at the beginning and the end of the course. In addition, students' empathy in the intervention group was explored by content analysis of students' reflective writing assignments related to documentary films that were part of the course activities. RESULTS Twenty students (intervention group) and seven students (control group) completed both IRI questionnaires. IRI scores for subscales perspective taking, fantasy, and personal distress significantly increased over time more in the intervention group than in the control group (intervention x time interaction). Effect sizes (generalized eta squared) for these effects were 0.084, 0.041, and 0.139 for perspective taking, fantasy, and personal distress, respectively. The qualitative data revealed information on cognitive and affective responses, and to some extent behavioral responses. CONCLUSIONS Both IRI outcomes and analysis of the reflective assignments demonstrate that students' empathy increased during the course on pain. Further research should explore in-depth the effects of different documentaries in the course on students' empathy development and the long-term effect of the course on students' empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana H van Houwelingen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 GC Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Ilayda Özaydin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 GC Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Theo Wubbels
- Department of Educational Sciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Hurissa BF, Koricha ZB, Dadi LS. Effect of empathy training on the empathy level of healthcare providers in Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1091605. [PMID: 37284470 PMCID: PMC10239930 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1091605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Empathy has deteriorated throughout clinical training and medical practice, and little is known about the effect of empathy training on the empathy level of healthcare providers. To address this gap, we assessed the effect of empathy training on the empathy level of healthcare providers in Ethiopia. Design A cluster randomized controlled trial study design was conducted from 20 December 2021 to 20 March 2022. The empathy training intervention was conducted for three consecutive days. Setting The study was conducted in five fistula treatment centers in Ethiopia. Participants The participants were all randomly selected healthcare providers. Main outcome measures Total mean score, percentage changes, and Cohen's effect size were computed. A linear mixed effects model and independent t-test were used for data analysis. Results A majority of the study participants were nurses in the profession, married, and first-degree holders. There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline empathy score of the intervention arm across their socio-demographic features. At the baseline, the mean empathy scores of the control and intervention arms were 102.10 ± 15.38 and 101.13 ± 17.67, respectively. The effect of empathy training on the total mean score changes of empathy of the intervention arm compared to the control arm at each follow-up time had a statistically significant difference. After a week, a month, and three months of post-intervention, the total mean empathy scores between the intervention and control arms were as follows: (intervention 112.65 ± 18.99, control 102.85 ± 15.65, d = 0.55, p = 0.03); (intervention 109.01 ± 17.79, control 100.52 ± 12.57, d = 0.53, p = 0.034); and (intervention 106.28 ± 16.24, control 96.58 ± 14.69, d = 0.60, p = 0.016) with the overall percentage changes of 11, 8, and 5% from the baseline scores, respectively. Conclusion In this trial, the empathy training intervention was found to have more than a medium effect size. However, over the follow-up intervals, there was a decreasing trend in the total mean empathy scores of healthcare providers; suggesting that there should be continued empathy training and integration of it into educational and training curriculums to enhance and sustain the empathy of healthcare providers.Clinical Trial Registration: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry: http://www.edctp.org/panafrican-clinical-trials-registry or https://pactr.samrc.ac.za, PACTR202112564898934.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zewdie Birhanu Koricha
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Lelisa Sena Dadi
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Grignoli N, Filipponi C, Petrocchi S. Eliciting empathetic drives to prosocial behavior during stressful events. Front Psychol 2022; 13:963544. [PMID: 36337517 PMCID: PMC9632620 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.963544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the current pandemic situation, psychological science is increasingly considered by public health policy. Empathy is mainly recognized as a crucial drive for prosocial behavior. However, this rich body of evidence still lacks visibility and implementation. Effective social programs are needed, and little is known about how to elicit empathetic drives. The paper gives first a clear foundation to the role of empathy during stressful events. It provides then a comprehensive overview of innovative interventions triggering empathic response in the public such as fiction, film, and theater. Moreover, it integrates interactive ways of sharing personal views that could elicit empathetic feelings in different people. Advances deriving from this perspective could be of significant public interest in the current and future health crises and help authorities develop innovative social programs, which should be the focus of further scientific inquiry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Grignoli
- Cantonal Socio-Psychiatric Organisation, Public Health Division, Department of Health and Social Care, Repubblica e Cantone Ticino, Mendrisio, Switzerland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Regional Hospital of Bellinzona and Valleys, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona and Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Nicola Grignoli, ; Serena Petrocchi,
| | - Chiara Filipponi
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Petrocchi
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
- Lab of Applied Psychology and Intervention, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy
- *Correspondence: Nicola Grignoli, ; Serena Petrocchi,
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Zhou YC, Tan SR, Tan CGH, Ng MSP, Lim KH, Tan LHE, Ong YT, Cheong CWS, Chin AMC, Chiam M, Chia EWY, Lim C, Wijaya L, Chowdhury AR, Kwek JW, Fong W, Somasundaram N, Ong EK, Mason S, Krishna LKR. A systematic scoping review of approaches to teaching and assessing empathy in medicine. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2021; 21:292. [PMID: 34020647 PMCID: PMC8140468 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-021-02697-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Empathy is pivotal to effective clinical care. Yet, the art of nurturing and assessing empathy in medical schools is rarely consistent and poorly studied. To inform future design of programs aimed at nurturing empathy in medical students and doctors, a review is proposed. METHODS This systematic scoping review (SSR) employs a novel approach called the Systematic Evidence Based Approach (SEBA) to enhance the reproducibility and transparency of the process. This 6-stage SSR in SEBA involved three teams of independent researchers who reviewed eight bibliographic and grey literature databases and performed concurrent thematic and content analysis to evaluate the data. RESULTS In total, 24429 abstracts were identified, 1188 reviewed, and 136 included for analysis. Thematic and content analysis revealed five similar themes/categories. These comprised the 1) definition of empathy, 2) approaches to nurturing empathy, 3) methods to assessing empathy, 4) outcome measures, and 5) enablers/barriers to a successful curriculum. CONCLUSIONS Nurturing empathy in medicine occurs in stages, thus underlining the need for it to be integrated into a formal program built around a spiralled curriculum. We forward a framework built upon these stages and focus attention on effective assessments at each stage of the program. Tellingly, there is also a clear need to consider the link between nurturing empathy and one's professional identity formation. This foregrounds the need for more effective tools to assess empathy and to better understand their role in longitudinal and portfolio based learning programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Cheng Zhou
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Shien Ru Tan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Chester Guan Hao Tan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Matthew Song Peng Ng
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Kia Hui Lim
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Lorraine Hui En Tan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Yun Ting Ong
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Clarissa Wei Shuen Cheong
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Annelissa Mien Chew Chin
- Medical Library, National University of Singapore Libraries, National University of Singapore Blk MD6, Centre for Translational Medicine, 14 Medical Dr, #05-01, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Min Chiam
- Division of Cancer Education, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Elisha Wan Ying Chia
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Crystal Lim
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, 8 College Rd, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- Medical Social Services, Singapore General Hospital, 16 College Road, Block 3 Level 1, Singapore, 169854, Singapore
| | - Limin Wijaya
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, 8 College Rd, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, 16 College Road, Block 6 Level 7, Singapore, 169854, Singapore
| | - Anupama Roy Chowdhury
- Department of General Medicine, Sengkang General Hospital, 110 Sengkang East Way, Singapore, 544886, Singapore
| | - Jin Wei Kwek
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, 8 College Rd, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- Division of Oncologic Imaging, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Warren Fong
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, 8 College Rd, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, 16 College Road, Block 6 Level 9, Singapore, 169854, Singapore
| | - Nagavalli Somasundaram
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, 8 College Rd, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
| | - Eng Koon Ong
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, 8 College Rd, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
| | - Stephen Mason
- Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, Academic Palliative & End of Life Care Centre, University of Liverpool, Cancer Research Centre, University of Liverpool, 200 London Rd, Liverpool, L3 9TA, UK
| | - Lalit Kumar Radha Krishna
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore.
- Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore.
- Division of Cancer Education, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Cr, Singapore, 169610, Singapore.
- Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, 8 College Rd, Singapore, 169857, Singapore.
- Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, Academic Palliative & End of Life Care Centre, University of Liverpool, Cancer Research Centre, University of Liverpool, 200 London Rd, Liverpool, L3 9TA, UK.
- Centre of Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore, Blk MD 11, 10 Medical Drive, #02-03, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
- PalC, The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, PalC c/o Dover Park Hospice, 10 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308436, Singapore.
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Gilligan C, Powell M, Lynagh MC, Ward BM, Lonsdale C, Harvey P, James EL, Rich D, Dewi SP, Nepal S, Croft HA, Silverman J. Interventions for improving medical students' interpersonal communication in medical consultations. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021; 2:CD012418. [PMID: 33559127 PMCID: PMC8094582 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012418.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Communication is a common element in all medical consultations, affecting a range of outcomes for doctors and patients. The increasing demand for medical students to be trained to communicate effectively has seen the emergence of interpersonal communication skills as core graduate competencies in medical training around the world. Medical schools have adopted a range of approaches to develop and evaluate these competencies. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of interventions for medical students that aim to improve interpersonal communication in medical consultations. SEARCH METHODS We searched five electronic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and ERIC (Educational Resource Information Centre) in September 2020, with no language, date, or publication status restrictions. We also screened reference lists of relevant articles and contacted authors of included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cluster-RCTs (C-RCTs), and non-randomised controlled trials (quasi-RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of interventions delivered to students in undergraduate or graduate-entry medical programmes. We included studies of interventions aiming to improve medical students' interpersonal communication during medical consultations. Included interventions targeted communication skills associated with empathy, relationship building, gathering information, and explanation and planning, as well as specific communication tasks such as listening, appropriate structure, and question style. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Two review authors independently reviewed all search results, extracted data, assessed the risk of bias of included studies, and rated the quality of evidence using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS We found 91 publications relating to 76 separate studies (involving 10,124 students): 55 RCTs, 9 quasi-RCTs, 7 C-RCTs, and 5 quasi-C-RCTs. We performed meta-analysis according to comparison and outcome. Among both effectiveness and comparative effectiveness analyses, we separated outcomes reporting on overall communication skills, empathy, rapport or relationship building, patient perceptions/satisfaction, information gathering, and explanation and planning. Overall communication skills and empathy were further divided as examiner- or simulated patient-assessed. The overall quality of evidence ranged from moderate to very low, and there was high, unexplained heterogeneity. Overall, interventions had positive effects on most outcomes, but generally small effect sizes and evidence quality limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Communication skills interventions in comparison to usual curricula or control may improve both overall communication skills (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53 to 1.31; 18 studies, 1356 participants; I² = 90%; low-quality evidence) and empathy (SMD 0.64, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.05; 6 studies, 831 participants; I² = 86%; low-quality evidence) when assessed by experts, but not by simulated patients. Students' skills in information gathering probably also improve with educational intervention (SMD 1.07, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.54; 5 studies, 405 participants; I² = 78%; moderate-quality evidence), but there may be little to no effect on students' rapport (SMD 0.18, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.51; 9 studies, 834 participants; I² = 81%; low-quality evidence), and effects on information giving skills are uncertain (very low-quality evidence). We are uncertain whether experiential interventions improve overall communication skills in comparison to didactic approaches (SMD 0.08, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.19; 4 studies, 1578 participants; I² = 4%; very low-quality evidence). Electronic learning approaches may have little to no effect on students' empathy scores (SMD -0.13, 95% CI -0.68 to 0.43; 3 studies, 421 participants; I² = 82%; low-quality evidence) or on rapport (SMD 0.02, 95% CI -0.33 to 0.38; 3 studies, 176 participants; I² = 19%; moderate-quality evidence) compared to face-to-face approaches. There may be small negative effects of electronic interventions on information giving skills (low-quality evidence), and effects on information gathering skills are uncertain (very low-quality evidence). Personalised/specific feedback probably improves overall communication skills to a small degree in comparison to generic or no feedback (SMD 0.58, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.87; 6 studies, 502 participants; I² = 56%; moderate-quality evidence). There may be small positive effects of personalised feedback on empathy and information gathering skills (low quality), but effects on rapport are uncertain (very low quality), and we found no evidence on information giving skills. We are uncertain whether role-play with simulated patients outperforms peer role-play in improving students' overall communication skills (SMD 0.17, 95% CI -0.33 to 0.67; 4 studies, 637 participants; I² = 87%; very low-quality evidence). There may be little to no difference between effects of simulated patient and peer role-play on students' empathy (low-quality evidence) with no evidence on other outcomes for this comparison. Descriptive syntheses of results that could not be included in meta-analyses across outcomes and comparisons were mixed, as were effects of different interventions and comparisons on specific communication skills assessed by the included trials. Quality of evidence was downgraded due to methodological limitations across several risk of bias domains, high unexplained heterogeneity, and imprecision of results. In general, results remain consistent in sensitivity analysis based on risk of bias and adjustment for clustering. No adverse effects were reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This review represents a substantial body of evidence from which to draw, but further research is needed to strengthen the quality of the evidence base, to consider the long-term effects of interventions on students' behaviour as they progress through training and into practice, and to assess effects of interventions on patient outcomes. Efforts to standardise assessment and evaluation of interpersonal skills will strengthen future research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor Gilligan
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Martine Powell
- Centre for Investigative Interviewing, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Marita C Lynagh
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, Australia
| | | | - Chris Lonsdale
- Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, Strathfield, Australia
| | - Pam Harvey
- School of Rural Health, Monash University, Bendigo, Australia
| | - Erica L James
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Dominique Rich
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Sari P Dewi
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Smriti Nepal
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Darlington, Australia
| | - Hayley A Croft
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
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