engleski

The Importance of Empathy from Medical School to Everyday Medical Practice and Life

Empathy is the ability to understand other people's emotions through creative, emotive, and cognitive processes, and thus allows us to adjust how we behave and how we speak to others. It is a skill that is desirable in patient-physician interactions because it contributes to the physician’s ability to view their patients as a whole and not only by their disease. A systematic review of the effectiveness of empathy in general practice shows that there is a correlation between physician empathy and patient satisfaction as well as a reduction in patient anxiety and distress. Current research conducted in medical schools shows different results in empathy levels across years of study, as well as a difference between sexes and specialties that students want to choose. In the academic context empathy is important for student motivation. Students that have more empathetic teachers are more motivated and have a better concept of their academic path. Current studies show contrasting results in empathy levels across years of study and different disciplines which means that some curriculums have better ways of maintaining, developing empathy, and emphasising the importance of empathy. It is a skill that shouldn’t be overlooked in healthcare professions because it has an important influence on patient satisfaction with treatment. It is especially important in psychiatry and psychoanalytic therapy because it positively contributes to the overall treatment of the patient and the connection of the body with our own thoughts and feelings cannot be overlooked in healing. There is a correlation between empathy levels and student preferred specialty, sex and motivation for choosing a particular job. Clinical empathy is essential in psychiatry and psychotherapy, from the level of cooperation to the therapeutic result.

Clinical empathy, medical school, student motivation

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