Empathy is not empathy is not empathy in the management of chronic pain

Clinician empathy can improve health outcomes, patient adherence, and patient satisfaction. When clinicians express empathy in response to patient negative emotion, patients tend to be more satisfied with the care they receive, tend to adhere to treatment recommendations, and consequently, tend to fare better. Research indicates that when clinicians respond to patient negative emotion with an empathic statement, such as, “I can’t imagine how hard this is for you” or “You seem scared,” patients feel heard, show less distress, and are better able to comprehend treatment information.
Source: Patient Education and Counseling - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research