Empathy in family medicine

Authors

  • António Macedo Médico Assistente de Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Progresso, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos
  • Luís Filipe Cavadas Médico Assistente de Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Lagoa, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos
  • Marlene Sousa Médica Assistente de Medicina Geral e Familiar, USF Caravela, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos
  • Paulo Pires Médico Interno de Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Lagoa, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos
  • José Agostinho Santos Médico Interno de Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Lagoa, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos
  • Alexandra Machado Médico Interno de Medicina Geral e Familiar. USF Lagoa, Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v27i6.10901

Keywords:

Empathy, Family Practice, Physician-Patient Relationships

Abstract

AIM: Empathy is crucial in therapeutic relationships. An empathic relationship has several positive outcomes: improvement of doctor-patient relationship, increased satisfaction and diagnostic ability, and patients empowerment. This study aims to assess empathy levels in a Portuguese Primary Health Care Practice (PPHCP) and to verify the relation between doctor-patient empathy and socio-demographic characteristics. DESIGN: cross-sectional study LOCATION: a Portuguese Primary Health Care Practice located in Senhora da Hora, Matosinhos. PARTICIPANTS: patients registered in the PPHCC who went to an appointment with their Family Physician (FP) during the month of June 2009. METHODS: Empathy value measured through the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) questionnaire. Associations between variables were tested with nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis) and Pearson correlation. The adopted significance level was 0.05. RESULTS: A sample of 353 questionnaires was obtained. FP mean empathy value was 41.1 points on a scale of 10-50 (CI 95%, 40.1-42.2). The only significant statistical association was related to educational level (p = 0.02). Patients with lower levels of formal education provided lower scores for FP empathy. CONCLUSION: The patients of this PPHCP scored high for empathy. Lower levels of formal education were correlated with lower scores for empathy, an association not found in other studies.

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Published

2011-11-01

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 6 (2011): Revista Portuguesa de Clínica Geral

Section

Original Research

License

The authors will assign to the RPMGF the sole right to publish and distribute the content of the manuscript specified in this declaration via physical, electronic, broadcasting or any other medium that may come into existence. They also grant the RPMGF the right to use and exploit this manuscript, in particular by assigning, selling or licensing its content. This permission is permanent and takes effect from the moment the manuscript is submitted, has the maximum duration allowed by applicable Portuguese or international law and is of worldwide scope. The authors further declare that this assignment is made free of charge. If the RPMGF informs the authors that it is not going to publish their manuscript, the exclusive assignment of rights ceases forthwith.

The authors authorise the RPMGF (or any entity it may appoint) to act on their behalf when it believes that copyright may have been infringed.

 

How to Cite

Empathy in family medicine. (2011). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 27(6), 527-32. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v27i6.10901

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