The Perception of Physician Empathy by Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Chiapponi, Costanza; Witt, Maxie; Dlugosch, Gabriele E.; Gülberg, Veit und Siebeck, Matthias (2016): The Perception of Physician Empathy by Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
In: PLOS ONE 11(11), e0167113

Abstract

Background and Aims This study focused on the difference between perceived and desired physician empathy pPE and dPE) in the eye of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It was investigated if a discrepancy (Delta PE) correlates with trust and satisfaction of patients. At the same time the aim was to gain detailed information about the subjective burden of disease and the resources of IBD patients, in order to better understand them. Methods A modified version of the German Version of the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure was completed as a paper-and-pencil questionnaire by IBD patients attending our facility (n = 32) and as an online survey by IBD patients at other locations throughout Germany (n = 89). Patients were in average 36.3 +/- 12 years old. Results The mean SD) rating of pPE was 3.93 (0.96) on a scale of 1 to 5 ("poor" to "excellent");however, the mean SD) dPE was 4.38 (0.48) on the same scale. Delta PE correlated with perceived empathy and with patients' satisfaction with treatment and trust in their health care providers. Patients reported quite a high subjective burden mean [SD]: 2.93 [.63]) and named family, friends, and support groups as resources. Conclusions Rather than assessing patient satisfaction with treatment and trust in their physician only with perceived PE, we suggest Delta PE as a useful additional parameter.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Medizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• Sprache: Englisch