Janine Westendorp1, Jacqueline Stouthard2, Maartje C Meijers3, Bart A M Neyrinck4, Paul de Jong5, Sandra van Dulmen6, Liesbeth M van Vliet7. 1. NIVEL (Netherlands institute for health services research), Utrecht, the Netherlands. 2. Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 3. Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands. 4. Clinical Psychology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht the Netherlands. 5. St Antonius Hospital, Utrecht, the Netherlands. 6. NIVEL (Netherlands institute for health services research), Utrecht, the Netherlands; Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Primary and Community Care, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Drammen, Norway. 7. Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands. Electronic address: l.m.van.vliet@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Experimental studies have found that clinician-expressed empathy improves patients' information recall in (advanced) cancer consultations. It remains unclear, however, whether these results are generalizable to clinical care and, if so, what the underlying mechanism is. We aimed to i) determine the relationship between clinician-expressed empathy and patients' information recall in clinical advanced breast cancer consultations; and ii) test whether the relationship between clinician-expressed empathy and recall is mediated by a decrease in patients' anxiety. METHODS: Forty-one consultations between oncologists and female patients with advanced breast cancer were audio recorded. Patients' post-consultation information recall and pre- and post-consultation anxiety (0-100) were assessed. Recall was scored according to a self-created questionnaire. Clinician-expressed empathy (0-100) was assessed by observers. Structural Equation Modelling was used for all analyses. RESULTS: Participants remembered 61% of the information discussed. Clinician-expressed empathy significantly increased patients' total information recall (p = .041) and recall of treatment aims/positive effects (p = .028). The mediating role of anxiety could not be established. CONCLUSION: Although the underlying mechanism remains unclear, clinicians have a powerful tool to improve seriously ill breast cancer patients' recall of information: empathy. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These insights should encourage clinicians to express empathy; practical communication training might prove helpful.
OBJECTIVE: Experimental studies have found that clinician-expressed empathy improves patients' information recall in (advanced) cancer consultations. It remains unclear, however, whether these results are generalizable to clinical care and, if so, what the underlying mechanism is. We aimed to i) determine the relationship between clinician-expressed empathy and patients' information recall in clinical advanced breast cancer consultations; and ii) test whether the relationship between clinician-expressed empathy and recall is mediated by a decrease in patients' anxiety. METHODS: Forty-one consultations between oncologists and female patients with advanced breast cancer were audio recorded. Patients' post-consultation information recall and pre- and post-consultation anxiety (0-100) were assessed. Recall was scored according to a self-created questionnaire. Clinician-expressed empathy (0-100) was assessed by observers. Structural Equation Modelling was used for all analyses. RESULTS:Participants remembered 61% of the information discussed. Clinician-expressed empathy significantly increased patients' total information recall (p = .041) and recall of treatment aims/positive effects (p = .028). The mediating role of anxiety could not be established. CONCLUSION: Although the underlying mechanism remains unclear, clinicians have a powerful tool to improve seriously ill breast cancerpatients' recall of information: empathy. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These insights should encourage clinicians to express empathy; practical communication training might prove helpful.
Authors: Janine Westendorp; Andrea W M Evers; Jacqueline M L Stouthard; Janneke Budding; Elsken van der Wall; Nicole M F Plum; Mirjam Velting; Anneke L Francke; Sandra van Dulmen; Tim C Olde Hartman; Liesbeth M Van Vliet Journal: Cancer Date: 2021-11-11 Impact factor: 6.921
Authors: José A E Custers; Lucy Davis; Christina Messiou; Judith B Prins; Winette T A van der Graaf Journal: Cancer Med Date: 2021-04-09 Impact factor: 4.452
Authors: Vittorio Longo; Flavia Abruzzese; Vittoria Miserocchi; Serena Carriero; Anna Clelia Gambaro; Luca Saba; Alessandro Carriero Journal: J Public Health Res Date: 2022-03-22
Authors: M C Meijers; J Stouthard; A W M Evers; E Das; H J Drooger; S J A J Jansen; A L Francke; N Plum; E van der Wall; Y Nestoriuc; E Dusseldorp; L M van Vliet Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2022-09-27 Impact factor: 4.996