Unpacking Empathy - What Are The Underlying Beliefs And Values That Drives Empathy In Healthcare Professionals: A Study To Develop And Validate A New Empathy Scale For Doctors And Nurses

Objective

Empathy is important in a healthcare context as empathetic behaviours by healthcare workers improve patient outcomes. Despite its importance, the understanding of empathy in the healthcare setting is scanty and opinions are divided on what consitututes empathy. The main tool used for measuring empathy in healthcare workers is the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy. While it has been shown to be psychometrically sound, it was developed based on literature review and the questions are focused on the cognitive and emotive aspect of empathy. We believe that empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of others) goes beyond cognition and emotions but also includes underlying beliefs, values, spirituality and culture.

The study aims to re-explore the components of empathy from the views of healthcare workers (providers) and patients (receivers) and to use the data gathered to create a new tool to measure empathy that takes into account underlying beliefs and values that drives empathy in addition to cognitive and emotive aspects of empathy.

Collaborators

1. LKC SoM

2. NYP

3. ALCNS

4. TTSH

5. KTPH

6. YCH