Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Assessment of Empathy Scores in a Pharmacy Professional Nutrition Support Elective Course Megan Mayhew, Pharm.D. Candidate. Preceptors: Jane Gervasio, Pharm.D., BCNSP, FCCP & Alison L. O'Malley, Ph.D. Background: Clinical empathy may be defined as the ability to listen to, understand, sympathize with, and provide support to another individual. Empathy has been shown to influence patient satisfaction, adherence, and improve clinical outcomes. Teaching empathy skills in the classroom and clinical setting is imperative to allow students to develop and enhance their communication with patients. Study objective: To evaluate two empathy projects in the RX 618 Nutrition Support Professional Elective to identify if the projects are effective. Methods: The study objective will be met using a prospective cohort survey based study. An interactive empathy survey will be employed at the beginning of the course and at the end of the course. Participants will be offered time in class to complete the brief survey (located in the Moodle course). Pre and post scores will be assessed. Additionally, the students will participate in an objective structured clinical examination. The student will interact and communicate with an actor acting as a caregiver in a simulated clinical scenario focusing on death and dying. The student and caregiver's interaction will be viewed and assessed. Significance: The study findings will help determine if the nutrition-related empathy exercises are effective in promoting and/or enhancing empathy skills.
Author: Megan M. Mayhew
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2264665317