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Compassionate physicians: personality traits and prosocial attitudes
1Department of the Sociology of Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Psychological Reports
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Physician compassionate behavior varied, with high self-esteem linked to actions aligning with attitudes. This suggests self-esteem influences how physicians express care towards patients.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Psychology in Medicine
- Physician Behavior
Background:
- Compassionate behavior is crucial in healthcare.
- Understanding factors influencing physician empathy is important for patient care.
- Physician attitudes and personal characteristics may impact their actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct groups of physicians based on compassionate behavior.
- To explore associations between physician compassionate behavior and personal characteristics, such as self-esteem.
Main Methods:
- Physicians were categorized into three groups according to their observed compassionate behaviors.
- Statistical analyses were performed to examine correlations between compassionate behavior and personal characteristics.
Main Results:
- Three distinct physician groups emerged based on levels of compassionate behavior.
- Physicians exhibiting high self-esteem were significantly more likely to demonstrate compassionate actions consistent with their attitudes compared to those with low self-esteem.
Conclusions:
- Self-esteem appears to be a significant factor influencing the congruence between physicians' attitudes and their compassionate actions.
- These findings highlight the importance of fostering high self-esteem among physicians to enhance patient-centered care.