MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: Psychosocial predictors of attitudes toward physician empathy in clinical encounters among 4732 1st year medical students: A report from the CHANGES study

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2014

ISSN: 07383991

DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2014.06.009

PMID: 25065328

Abstract: OBJECTIVE Medical school curricula intended to promote empathy varies widely. Even the most effective curricula leave a significant group of students untouched. Pre-existing student factors influence their response to learning experiences. We examined the individual predictors of first semester medical students' attitudes toward the value of physician empathy in clinical encounters. METHODS First year students (n=4732) attending a stratified random sample of 49 US medical schools completed an online questionnaire that included measures of dispositional characteristics, attitudes and beliefs, self-concept and well-being. RESULTS Discomfort with uncertainty, close-mindedness, dispositional empathy, elitism, medical authoritarianism, egalitarianism, self-concept and well-being all independently predicted first year medical students' attitudes toward the benefit of physician empathy in clinical encounters. CONCLUSION Students vary on their attitude toward the value of physician empathy when they start medical school. The individual factors that predict their attitudes toward empathy may also influence their response to curricula promoting empathic care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Curricula in medical school promoting empathic care may be more universally effective if students' preexisting attitudes are taken into account. Messages about the importance of physician empathy may need to be framed in ways that are consistent with the beliefs and prior world-views of medical students.

Url: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25065328

Url: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=PMC4195739

Url: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0738399114002419

User Submitted?: No

Authors: van Ryn, Michelle; Hardeman, Rachel; Phelan, Sean M.; Burke, Sara E.; Przedworski, Julia M; Allen, Michele L.; Burgess, Diana J.; Ridgeway, Jennifer L.; White, Richard O.; Dovidio, John F.

Periodical (Full): Patient Education and Counseling

Issue: 3

Volume: 96

Pages: 367-375

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop