Cumulative Risk on the Oxytocin Receptor Gene (OXTR) Predicts Empathic Communication by Physician Assistant Students
Kory Floyd1, Mark Alan Generous2, Lou Clark3
1a Department of Communication , University of Arizona.
Health Communication
|September 11, 2016
Summary
Physician assistant students with genetic variations linked to empathy showed lower empathic communication, as rated by instructors and observers. This suggests a genetic influence on empathic communication skills in healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Genetics
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Empathic communication is crucial in patient-provider relationships, particularly in primary care.
- Physician assistants (PAs) are increasingly important in primary care, yet their empathic communication is understudied.
- The oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is linked to empathic behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate empathic communication skills among physician assistant students.
- To explore the association between genetic variations in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and empathic communication.
- To assess how different raters (patients, instructors, observers) perceive student empathy.
Main Methods:
- Physician assistant students conducted standardized patient interviews over six months.
- Interviews were evaluated for empathic communication by standardized patients, clinical instructors, and third-party observers.
- Saliva samples were genotyped for single-nucleotide polymorphisms on the OXTR gene using a cumulative risk approach.
Main Results:
- Cumulative genetic risk on the OXTR gene predicted lower empathy scores.
- This association was observed in ratings by clinical instructors and third-party observers.
- No significant association was found between OXTR genetic risk and empathy scores as rated by standardized patients.
Conclusions:
- Genetic factors, specifically variations in the OXTR gene, may influence empathic communication in physician assistant students.
- Rater perspectives (instructors/observers vs. patients) can differ in evaluating empathic communication.
- Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay of genetics and communication in healthcare settings.
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