Henryk Bukowski1, Catherine Sweeney2, Deirdre Bennett2, Gabriella Rizzo3, Colm M P O'Tuathaigh4. 1. Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium. 2. Medical Education Unit, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. 3. Department of Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. 4. Medical Education Unit, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: c.otuathaigh@ucc.ie.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between self-reported empathy and breaking bad news (BBN) communication skills performance in a sample of undergraduate medical students (n = 100) in the clinical years of their program. METHODS: Correlational and regression analysis examined the relationship between Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE-S) and Empathy Quotient (EQ) scores, and communication skills performance based on students' application of the SPIKES protocol to a BBN scenario in a simulated encounter. RESULTS: Higher BBN communication skills performance was positively correlated with scores on the "Social Skills" EQ sub-scale (r (99) = 0.31, p = 0.002), which measures spontaneous and context-independent use of social skills. Multiple regression confirmed that "Social Skills" sub-scale variation predicted BBN score variation (B = 2.17, 95% CI = 0.65-3.69, p < 0.01). A weak positive association was also observed between BBN score and the "Standing in Patient's Shoes" JSPE sub-scale (r (99) = 0.22, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that specific aspects of dispositional empathy may moderate BBN communications skills competence in medical students. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A better understanding of the moderating role of personality may lead to more tailored BBN communications skills training interventions and improved transfer of skills to workplace settings.
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between self-reported empathy and breaking bad news (BBN) communication skills performance in a sample of undergraduate medical students (n = 100) in the clinical years of their program. METHODS: Correlational and regression analysis examined the relationship between Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE-S) and Empathy Quotient (EQ) scores, and communication skills performance based on students' application of the SPIKES protocol to a BBN scenario in a simulated encounter. RESULTS: Higher BBN communication skills performance was positively correlated with scores on the "Social Skills" EQ sub-scale (r (99) = 0.31, p = 0.002), which measures spontaneous and context-independent use of social skills. Multiple regression confirmed that "Social Skills" sub-scale variation predicted BBN score variation (B = 2.17, 95% CI = 0.65-3.69, p < 0.01). A weak positive association was also observed between BBN score and the "Standing in Patient's Shoes" JSPE sub-scale (r (99) = 0.22, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that specific aspects of dispositional empathy may moderate BBN communications skills competence in medical students. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A better understanding of the moderating role of personality may lead to more tailored BBN communications skills training interventions and improved transfer of skills to workplace settings.
Authors: Barbara Bętkowska-Korpała; Anna Pastuszak-Draxler; Katarzyna Olszewska-Turek; Karolina Sikora-Zych; Roksana Epa; Anna Starowicz-Filip Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2022-05-16 Impact factor: 3.263
Authors: Agata Kotłowska; Julia Przeniosło; Krzysztof Sobczak; Jan Plenikowski; Marcin Trzciński; Oliwia Lenkiewicz; Julia Lenkiewicz Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-23 Impact factor: 4.614