Physician Empathy in Doctor-Patient Communication: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Medical Communication
• Patient Outcomes Research
• Empathy in Healthcare

Background:

• Physician empathy is crucial for effective doctor-patient communication and patient outcomes.
• Existing literature lacks a recent synthesis on how empathy is expressed and its impact.
• A comprehensive understanding is needed to improve clinical practice.

Approach:

• Systematic review of English peer-reviewed articles published between January 2017 and October 2021.
• Utilized PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.
• Analyzed 3055 retrieved articles, retaining 11 for thematic analysis.

Key Points:

• Identified three core themes: physicians' empathic expressions, patient outcomes (functional status, safety, satisfaction), and enhanced doctor-patient communication.
• Physician empathy manifests in various ways, positively influencing patient experiences.
• Empathy demonstrably improves patient-reported outcomes and communication effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Physician empathy plays a vital role in improving patient outcomes and communication.
• The review highlights diverse empathic expressions and their positive effects.
• Identified under-researched areas for future investigation in physician empathy studies.