Back to Search
Start Over
Physician Empathy in Doctor-Patient Communication: A Systematic Review.
- Source :
-
Health Communication . May2024, Vol. 39 Issue 5, p1027-1037. 11p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Physician empathy is at the heart of doctor-patient communication and significantly influences patient outcomes. However, the research on how physicians express their empathy and how physician empathy affects patient outcomes and doctor-patient communication has not been well summarized in the latest literature. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to synthesize existing studies on physician empathy and its value to patient outcomes and doctor-patient communication. The systematic review consisted of studies published in English peer-reviewed journals between January 2017 and October 2021. Following the PRISMA procedure, a total of 3055 articles were retrieved, and 11 articles were retained. The thematic analysis revealed three emergent themes: physicians' empathic expressions; patient outcomes (patient functional status, patient safety, and patient satisfaction); and empathy enhancing doctor-patient communication. This study highlighted the different ways empathy may be expressed by physicians and its positive effects on patient outcomes and doctor- patient communication. This study also suggested the under-researched areas that can be expanded in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10410236
- Volume :
- 39
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Health Communication
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 176474592
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2023.2201735