Ewa Walocha1, Krzysztof A Tomaszewski2, Ewa Wilczek-Ruzyczka1, Jerzy Walocha3. 1. Department of Nursing Basics and Theory, Institute of Nursing and Obstetrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland. 2. Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland. krzysztof.tomaszewski@uj.edu.pl. 3. Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the level of empathy and burnout among physicians of different specialization, as well as to determine whether a correlation existed between the level of empathy and burnout. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Seventy-one physicians took part in the study - 25 women (35.2%) and 46 men (age between 25 to 68 years). The physicians were either employed in hospitals, outpatient clinics or university departments in Krakow. The participants were asked to fill out a personal questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Emotional Empathy Scale (EES) as well as describe four chosen tables from the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). RESULTS: The average empathy score for the whole group was 14.3 (SD ± 6.4). The average levels of each of the burnout (according to MBI) elements for the whole group were 21.72 for emotional exhaustion, 9.62 for depersonalization and 29.07 for loss of personal accomplishment. For the whole group a negative correlation was noted between loss of personal accomplishment (according to MBI) and the level of empathy (according to EES) (r = -0.23, p <0.05). For the whole group negative correlations were noted between the level of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and the total level of burnout (according to MBI) and the level of empathy (according to TAT) (r = -0.30, p <0.05; r = -0.39, p <0.01; p = -0.32, p <0.01 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Concluding, medical specialists have a significantly higher level of empathy than surgeons and family physicians. It is imperative to remember that increasing depersonalization and emotional exhaustion can have a negative impact on empathy.
AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the level of empathy and burnout among physicians of different specialization, as well as to determine whether a correlation existed between the level of empathy and burnout. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Seventy-one physicians took part in the study - 25 women (35.2%) and 46 men (age between 25 to 68 years). The physicians were either employed in hospitals, outpatient clinics or university departments in Krakow. The participants were asked to fill out a personal questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Emotional Empathy Scale (EES) as well as describe four chosen tables from the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). RESULTS: The average empathy score for the whole group was 14.3 (SD ± 6.4). The average levels of each of the burnout (according to MBI) elements for the whole group were 21.72 for emotional exhaustion, 9.62 for depersonalization and 29.07 for loss of personal accomplishment. For the whole group a negative correlation was noted between loss of personal accomplishment (according to MBI) and the level of empathy (according to EES) (r = -0.23, p <0.05). For the whole group negative correlations were noted between the level of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and the total level of burnout (according to MBI) and the level of empathy (according to TAT) (r = -0.30, p <0.05; r = -0.39, p <0.01; p = -0.32, p <0.01 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Concluding, medical specialists have a significantly higher level of empathy than surgeons and family physicians. It is imperative to remember that increasing depersonalization and emotional exhaustion can have a negative impact on empathy.
Authors: Anna Cheshire; Damien Ridge; John Hughes; David Peters; Maria Panagioti; Chantal Simon; George Lewith Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2017-05-08 Impact factor: 5.386
Authors: Anna Cheshire; John Hughes; George Lewith; Maria Panagioti; David Peters; Chantal Simon; Damien Ridge Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2017-09-11 Impact factor: 5.386