Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025

Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise
Published on: March 29, 2019
Experiences of empathy training in healthcare: A systematic review of qualitative studies
Rachel Winter1, Navin Leanage1, Nia Roberts2
1Leicester Medical School, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, George Davies Centre, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom.
Objective:
To synthesise qualitative studies reporting student, practitioner, or patient experiences of empathy-training in healthcare.
Methods:
We included qualitative studies exploring (i) student or practitioner experiences of empathy training, or (ii) patient experiences of being treated by someone who has undergone empathy training. We used the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool to assess study quality. Thematic synthesis was used to integrate findings from studies and to generate new insights.
Results:
Our search yielded 2768 citations, of which 23 (1487 participants) met inclusion criteria. Two clusters of themes were identified from included studies. Firstly, themes related to practitioner/trainee professionalism and wellbeing, where the main finding was that participants experienced benefit from therapeutic empathy training. Secondly, themes related to the understanding and treatment of patients, where the main finding was practitioners' deeper recognition of the positive impact of empathic care.
Conclusions:
This review found that taking part in empathy-focused training can benefit practitioner/student personal growth and professional development, and benefits patient care. This review is limited by the difficulty in defining empathy and heterogeneity amongst included studies.
Practice Implications:
These results support a rationale for empathy training and the development of a framework to ensure training is having the desired effect.
More Related Videos
09:52Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
12:22Mindfulness in Motion MIM: An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention MBI for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
Published on: July 1, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Empathy
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
Cognitive Development During Adolescence
The Scientific Method
Psychodynamic Therapy