Evaluating Perspectives on Empathy in Anesthesiology Trainees: A Mixed-Methods Study of Pre-Anesthesia Encounters

Empathy is a crucial part of the therapeutic relationship. Inadequate patient-physician communication can result in misunderstanding, reduced patient satisfaction, poor compliance with recommended interventions, and increased malpractice risk. Despite its importance, empathy among anesthesiology trainees remains under explored. This observational study used validated tools to evaluate trainee empathy in the pre-anesthesia setting from different perspectives.

Participating anesthesiology trainees were observed as they conducted pre-anesthesia patient encounters. First, they completed self-evaluations using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) and the Resident Wellness Scale. Additionally, patients who were 18 years or older completed the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy (JSPPPE) after their pre-anesthesia interview with the anesthesia trainee. A non-anesthesiologist physician evaluated the interactions between patients and anesthesia trainees with the Jefferson Empathy Scale for Observers (JSEO). Quantitative analyses of closed questions (including empathy scales) included descriptive statistics, correlations, and multivariable linear regression analysis. Open-ended questions were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Twenty-four trainees completed 151 observed patient pre-anesthesia encounters with at least 5 observations per trainee. There was a modest, negative correlation between average time (seconds) in patient interaction and trainee wellness (r = -0.421, P = .041), and a moderate negative correlation between the trainee empathy subdomain "walking in the patient's shoes" and year in training (r = -0.451, P = .021). Male trainees spent more time during the consultation (mean time ± SD = 396 ± 80 seconds vs. 323 ± 50 seconds, P = .035) and had higher mean ratings from patients (JSPPPE rating 33.1 ± 3.00 vs 32.2 ± 3.00, P = .020) than female trainees. On multivariable analysis, predictors of highest empathy ratings were male gender (JSPPPE: P = .022) and the year of training (JSE: P = .013; JSEO: p =0.023). Thematic analysis of patient and observer comments suggests a discrepancy in perceived empathy, with patients less likely to perceive positive behaviors as empathetic, but an emphasis on importance of information delivered in the pre-anesthesia encounter.

Patients found male trainees and trainees earlier in training to display higher levels of empathy which differed from observer ratings. Qualitative evaluation may offer insights into our understanding of patient-perceived empathy in anesthesiology trainees. The discrepancy between patient, trainee, and observer ratings suggests that perceived empathy in anesthesiology pre-anesthesia interviews may be driven by different factors than in other specialties, particularly information exchange and efficiency of communication.