Patients Empathy to Physicians and Patients Perception of Physicians Empathy During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Öz

Abstract Objective Physicians have a heavy workload due to their menthal and physical efforts. Physicians want to be understood for coping with the stressful working conditions. In this study, the aim was to analyze patients empathy levels to physicians, patients’ perceptions of physician empathy levels especially during a crisis like a pandemic. Materials and Methods The empathy levels of the patients (n=396, >18 ages) to physicians who had visited XXXXXX Hospital non-emergency outpatient clinics were investigated. The same patients' perception of the physicians empathy toward them was also assessed by ‘The Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy’, a 7-point Likert-type scale. These patients’ data of having/not having chronic illness and their health institution visits were evaluated. The patients characteristics compared statistically with their patients’ perceptions of physician empathy levels. Results The empathy levels of the patients to their physicians was high. Patients’ perceptions of physician empathy toward them was also found as 5.14. The patients who did not wait for a visit to a health institution when needed during the pandemic (76.8%) have significiantly high patients’ perceptions of physician empathy (p<0,05). Conclusions Empathy which is an important communication skill in order to cope with critical conditions should be mutual and trust is the most important issue for constructing empathy. The volunteer patients showed trust to their physicians by visiting the hospital which infected patients also visit. The patients with high empathy levels to their physicians also had high patients perception of physician empathy levels. Keywords Empathy, Patients, Physicians, Covid-19, Crisis

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Empathy
• Patients
• Physicians
• Covid-19
• Crisis

Covid-19 Pandemisinde Hastaların Hekimlere Karşı Empatisi ve Hastaların Hekim Kaynaklı Empati Algısı

Öz

Öz Amaç Hekimlerin hem zihinsel hem de fiziksel çabaları nedeniyle ağır bir iş yükü vardır. Hekimler, stresli çalışma koşullarıyla baş edebilmek için anlaşılmak istemektedirler. Bu çalışmada özellikle pandemi gibi bir kriz durumunda, hastaların hekimlerine karşı empati düzeyleri ve hastaların hekim kaynaklı empatiyi algı düzeylerinin araştırılması amaçlandı. Materyal ve Metod XXXXXX Hastanesi acil dışı polikliniklerine ayaktan başvuran hastaların (n=396, >18 yaş) hekimlerine karşı empati düzeyleri tespit edildi. Aynı hastaların hekim kaynaklı empatiyi algıları da 7'li Likert tipi bir ölçek olan 'The Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy' ile değerlendirildi. Bu hastaların kronik bir hastalıklarının olup olmadığı ve sağlık kurumu ziyaretleri araştırıldı. Hastaların mevcut özellikleriyle hekim kaynaklı empatiyi algı düzeyleri istatistiksel olarak karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular Hastaların hekimlerine karşı empati düzeylerinin yüksek olduğu saptandı. Hastaların hekim kaynaklı empatiyi algı puanlarının da 5,14 olduğu tespit edildi. Pandemi sırasında gerektiğinde bir sağlık kuruluşunu ziyaret etmek için beklemeyen hastaların (%76,8), hekim kaynaklı empatiyi algı düzeyinin yüksek olduğu saptandı (p<0,05). Sonuç Kritik durumlarla baş edebilmek için önemli bir iletişim becerisi olan empati, karşılıklı olmalıdır ve empati kurmak için en önemli konu güvendir. Çalışmaya katılan gönüllü hastalar, enfekte hastaların da ziyaret ettiği hastaneyi ziyaret ederek hekimlerine olan güvenlerini göstermektedir. Hekimlerine karşı empati düzeyi yüksek hastaların hekim kaynaklı empati algısının da yüksek olduğu saptanmıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler Empati, Hastalar, Hekimler, Covid-19, Kriz

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Empati
• Hastalar
• Hekimler
• Covid-19
• Kriz

Kaynakça

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