A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Physician Empathy with Patient Assessment of the Same at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata, India
Keywords:
empathy, gender-concordance, physicians, people-centric, technology-centricAbstract
Background: Empathy is necessary for a successful medical practice. There have been very few studies comparing empathy of physicians with their patients’ rating. This study conducted to measure the empathy of physicians at selected OPDs of IPGME&R and SSKM hospital; to compare this with patient’s assessment of the same and also to compare empathy between “technological centric” and “people centric” disciplines.
Methods: Cross-Sectional observational study using standardized tools of measuring empathy in physicians (JSE) and patients (JSPPPE).Convenience sampling was used.
Results: Gender concordance (patient and physician have the same sex) was 60%.Mean JSE and JSPPPE were most in agreement for Cardiology and General Surgery and least for Neurology and Orthopedics. Association of above-average JSPPPE score with type of OPD, Physician Gender and Gender Concordance. Agreement between JSE and JSPPPE Scores was 38.9%.
Conclusions: No significant differences observed between empathy rating of “people-centric” and “technology-centric” disciplines. Gender and gender concordance emerged as important factors that govern patient’s perception of empathy.
Keywords: empathy, gender-concordance, physicians, people-centric, technology-centric
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