The Role of Empathy in Activation

Patients generally consult healthcare providers because they want to address immediate discomfort. The good news is that in doing so, they are actually playing a role in self-activation. The not so good news is that despite this first step, they still have a long way to go in becoming fully activated and engaged.

For example:

• Only 30% of individuals possess the motivation and skills to actively engage in their health care (1)

• 23% of individuals engage in their healthcare, but worry they will not be able to handle a medical crisis (2)

• 12% want to remain unengaged (2)

• 29% do not have the knowledge to understand their treatment regimens (2)

As healthcare providers, the challenge lies in motivating and empowering patients to get beyond any insecurities they harbor about their own ability to modify their behaviors. This requires that we examine the methods and strategies we employ to assist our patients in achieving their desired healthcare goals.

A good place to start in this examination lies in empathy. In fact, in a recent study of the relationship between physician empathy and disease complications shows us that that better clinical outcomes are evident among doctors who are empathetic (3). Empathy, as a skill and clinical competency, varies among all of us. We each have a unique way to show our patients that we recognize their expressed feelings and want to help them.

For me, creating an empathetic environment involves having a collaborative relationship with referring providers, being upfront about my role and the patient's role, being positive and reflective, having patience, being non-judgmental and building trust.

Now I would like to hear from you. What do you do to create an empathetic environment?

References:

1. Williams SS, Heller A. Patient activation among Medicare beneficiaries: segmentation to promote informed decision-making. Int J Pharm and Healthcare Marketing 2007; 1: 199-213.
2. Hibbard JH, Mahoney ER, Stock R, Tusler M. Do increases in patient activation result in improved self-management behaviors? Health Serv Res 2007; 42:1443-63.
3. Canale, Stefano Del MD, PhD; Louis, Daniel Z. MS; Maio, Vittorio PharmD, MS, MSPH; Wang, Xiaohong MS; Rossi, Giuseppina MD; Hojat, Mohammadreza PhD; Gonnella, Joseph S. MD. The Relationship Between Physician Empathy and Disease Complications: An Empirical Study of Primary Care Physicians and Their Diabetic Patients in Parma, Italy. Academic Medicine: September 2012 – Volume 87 – Issue 9 – p 1243–1249.