Sophie Lelorain1, Anne Brédart2, Sylvie Dolbeault3, Alejandra Cano4, Angélique Bonnaud-Antignac5, Florence Cousson-Gélie6, Serge Sultan7. 1. Univ Lille Nord de France, Department of Psychology, Lille, France; UDL3, SCALab UMR CNRS 9193, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France. Electronic address: sophie.lelorain@univ-lille3.fr. 2. Institut Curie, Psycho-oncology Unit, Paris, France; Paris Descartes University, LPPS EA 4057-IUPDP, Boulogne-Billancourt, France. 3. Institut Curie, Psycho-oncology Unit, Paris, France; Inserm, U 669, Paris, France; Univ Paris-Sud and Univ Paris Descartes, UMR-S0669, Paris, France. 4. Institut Curie, Psycho-oncology Unit, Paris, France. 5. University of Nantes, EA4275 SPHERE 'bioStatistics, Pharmacoepidemiology and Human sciEnces Research', Nantes, France. 6. University of Montpellier 3, Laboratory Epsylon 'Dynamics of Human Abilities & Health Behaviors', Montpellier, France; ICM, Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Epidaure Prevention and Education Cancer Center, Montpellier, France. 7. University of Montreal, Sainte Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Unmet supportive care needs of patients decrease patient perception of physician empathy (PE). We explored whether the accurate physician understanding of a given patient's unmet needs (AU), could buffer the adverse effect of these unmet needs on PE. METHODS: In a cross-sectional design, 28 physicians and 201 metastatic cancer patients independently assessed the unmet supportive care needs of patients. AU was calculated as the sum of items for which physicians correctly rated the level of patient needs. PE and covariates were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Multilevel analyses were carried out. RESULTS: AU did not directly affect PE but acted as a moderator. When patients were highly expressive and when physicians perceived poor rapport with the patient, a high AU moderated the adverse effect of patient unmet needs on PE. CONCLUSION: Physician AU has the power to protect the doctor-patient relationship in spite of high patient unmet needs, but only in certain conditions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Physicians should be encouraged toward AU but warned that high rapport and patient low emotional expression may impede an accurate reading of patients. In this latter case, they should request a formal assessment of their patients' needs.
OBJECTIVE: Unmet supportive care needs of patients decrease patient perception of physician empathy (PE). We explored whether the accurate physician understanding of a given patient's unmet needs (AU), could buffer the adverse effect of these unmet needs on PE. METHODS: In a cross-sectional design, 28 physicians and 201 metastatic cancerpatients independently assessed the unmet supportive care needs of patients. AU was calculated as the sum of items for which physicians correctly rated the level of patient needs. PE and covariates were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Multilevel analyses were carried out. RESULTS: AU did not directly affect PE but acted as a moderator. When patients were highly expressive and when physicians perceived poor rapport with the patient, a high AU moderated the adverse effect of patient unmet needs on PE. CONCLUSION: Physician AU has the power to protect the doctor-patient relationship in spite of high patient unmet needs, but only in certain conditions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Physicians should be encouraged toward AU but warned that high rapport and patient low emotional expression may impede an accurate reading of patients. In this latter case, they should request a formal assessment of their patients' needs.
Authors: Susan C Pitt; Elizabeth Wendt; Megan C Saucke; Corrine I Voils; Jason Orne; Cameron L Macdonald; Nadine P Connor; Rebecca S Sippel Journal: J Surg Res Date: 2019-07-12 Impact factor: 2.192
Authors: Shane Sinclair; Kate Beamer; Thomas F Hack; Susan McClement; Shelley Raffin Bouchal; Harvey M Chochinov; Neil A Hagen Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2016-08-17 Impact factor: 4.762