Empathy before entering practice: A qualitative study on drivers of empathy in healthcare professionals from the perspective of medical students

Yun Ying Ho; Laurence Tan; Chou Chuen Yu; Mai Khanh Le; Tanya Tierney; James Alvin Low; Yun Ying Ho; Laurence Tan; Chou Chuen Yu; Mai Khanh Le; Tanya Tierney; James Alvin Low

doi:10.3934/medsci.2023026

AIMS Medical Science

2023, Volume 10, Issue 4: 329-342. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2023026

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Research article

Empathy before entering practice: A qualitative study on drivers of empathy in healthcare professionals from the perspective of medical students

1.
MOH Holdings, Singapore
2.
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
3.
Geriatric Education and Research Institute, Singapore
4.
Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Received: 04 September 2023 Revised: 08 November 2023 Accepted: 09 November 2023 Published: 05 December 2023

Literature has shown that clinical empathy is important for good and effective patient care; however, research into the underlying precursors driving empathy is lacking. In this study, we aim to explore the motivating factors of empathy in healthcare professionals from the perspective of medical students. A grounded theory approach was employed to study the driving influences behind empathy in healthcare professionals. Focus Group Discussions comprising 21 English-speaking Year 4 medical students from Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine were conducted in August 2018. The results revealed four drivers of empathy and they are affective, cognitive, moral and individual valuation of empathy. A novel perspective on the motivation of empathy suggests that individual valuation of empathy plays a moderating role in both promoting and reducing empathetic behaviors. This proposes that effectiveness of empathetic behaviors founded upon genuine care might vary compared to those without it, which is consistent with current literature. We have shown that affective, cognitive and moral foundations of empathy are essential driving forces of empathy, with the valuation of empathy playing a major role in propelling empathetic behavior. In understanding the perceptions of empathy, interventions could work on accentuating the positive impacts of empathy in patient care, which might in turn, compel healthcare workers to display increased empathy for better patient care.
- clinical empathy,
- effective patient care,
- motivating factors of empathy,
- medical students,
- healthcare professionals
Citation: Yun Ying Ho, Laurence Tan, Chou Chuen Yu, Mai Khanh Le, Tanya Tierney, James Alvin Low. Empathy before entering practice: A qualitative study on drivers of empathy in healthcare professionals from the perspective of medical students[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2023, 10(4): 329-342. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2023026

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Abstract

Literature has shown that clinical empathy is important for good and effective patient care; however, research into the underlying precursors driving empathy is lacking. In this study, we aim to explore the motivating factors of empathy in healthcare professionals from the perspective of medical students. A grounded theory approach was employed to study the driving influences behind empathy in healthcare professionals. Focus Group Discussions comprising 21 English-speaking Year 4 medical students from Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine were conducted in August 2018. The results revealed four drivers of empathy and they are affective, cognitive, moral and individual valuation of empathy. A novel perspective on the motivation of empathy suggests that individual valuation of empathy plays a moderating role in both promoting and reducing empathetic behaviors. This proposes that effectiveness of empathetic behaviors founded upon genuine care might vary compared to those without it, which is consistent with current literature. We have shown that affective, cognitive and moral foundations of empathy are essential driving forces of empathy, with the valuation of empathy playing a major role in propelling empathetic behavior. In understanding the perceptions of empathy, interventions could work on accentuating the positive impacts of empathy in patient care, which might in turn, compel healthcare workers to display increased empathy for better patient care.

Funding

This work was supported by Geriatric Education and Research Institute's Intramural fund (reference number GERI1616).

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflicts of interest in this paper.

References

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