Titre
How does a physician’s accurate understanding of a cancer patient’s unmet needs contribute to patient perception of physician empathy?
Type
article
Institution
Externe
Périodique
Auteur(s)
Lelorain, Sophie
Auteure/Auteur
Brédart, Anne
Auteure/Auteur
Dolbeault, Sylvie
Auteure/Auteur
Cano, Alejandra
Auteure/Auteur
Bonnaud-Antignac, Angélique
Auteure/Auteur
Cousson-Gélie, Florence
Auteure/Auteur
Sultan, Serge
Auteure/Auteur
Liens vers les personnes
ISSN
1873-5134
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
2015-06
Volume
98
Numéro
6
Première page
734
Dernière page/numéro d’article
741
Langue
anglais
Résumé
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.
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.
PID Serval
serval:BIB_3BC91585E7C2
PMID
Date de création
2021-10-21T09:54:45.003Z
Date de création dans IRIS
2025-05-20T16:30:26Z