Patient Empathy Essay
PURPOSE
Empathy is “the act of correctly acknowledging the emotional state of another without experiencing that state oneself,” indicating patient’s plight is understood (2).
In this case, non-verbally I showed interest by keeping eye contact, nod appropriately and make facilitatory noises. Verbally, I said “that must be very hard for you, having the pain and having to stand all day” showing understand and empathy of the difficulty of the pain that he suffers and its effects daily. The purpose of empathy is to build rapport, developing mutual trust because ‘rapport is the root of effective communication’ (4). Consequently, the patient feels more comfortable to communicate their agenda and feelings setting the basis for a successful consultation. EFFECTIVENESS
Empathy help establishes a good ‘doctor- patient relationship’ where the patient will feel more at ease (3) to …show more content…
(7) I intend to practice empathy appropriately during history taking at GP or hospital visits as I appreciate that it is an important skill for a physician to master to deliver patient-centred care. Active listening skill complementary to empathy is an effective tool in information gathering.
The phase “that must be very hard for you” is used repeatedly. It is crucially important to observe patient’s cues and respond while showing empathy as sometimes overuse can be ineffective or have a negative effect so I will avoid overuse and try my best to relate to the patient.
Some patients can exert more influence on the medics, leading to more feelings on personal and emotional scales. However, through brutal years of medical school, medical students may become desensitized to empathize and detached. It is healthy to keep a good balance while providing supportive professional care. I, therefore, intend to scrutinize the extent of this skill through future GP and hospital visits in hope of utilising this skill when opportunity
Empathy is “the act of correctly acknowledging the emotional state of another without experiencing that state oneself,” indicating patient’s plight is understood (2).
In this case, non-verbally I showed interest by keeping eye contact, nod appropriately and make facilitatory noises. Verbally, I said “that must be very hard for you, having the pain and having to stand all day” showing understand and empathy of the difficulty of the pain that he suffers and its effects daily. The purpose of empathy is to build rapport, developing mutual trust because ‘rapport is the root of effective communication’ (4). Consequently, the patient feels more comfortable to communicate their agenda and feelings setting the basis for a successful consultation. EFFECTIVENESS
Empathy help establishes a good ‘doctor- patient relationship’ where the patient will feel more at ease (3) to …show more content…
(7) I intend to practice empathy appropriately during history taking at GP or hospital visits as I appreciate that it is an important skill for a physician to master to deliver patient-centred care. Active listening skill complementary to empathy is an effective tool in information gathering.
The phase “that must be very hard for you” is used repeatedly. It is crucially important to observe patient’s cues and respond while showing empathy as sometimes overuse can be ineffective or have a negative effect so I will avoid overuse and try my best to relate to the patient.
Some patients can exert more influence on the medics, leading to more feelings on personal and emotional scales. However, through brutal years of medical school, medical students may become desensitized to empathize and detached. It is healthy to keep a good balance while providing supportive professional care. I, therefore, intend to scrutinize the extent of this skill through future GP and hospital visits in hope of utilising this skill when opportunity