Updated: 23 June, 2025
What is empathy? Everyone speaks a lot about empathy, but it’s important to understand the concept itself. What it actually includes, how it affects interactions and, in context of this blog, why empathy matters in patient care.
In healthcare, empathy goes beyond merely acknowledging a patient’s feelings, it’s about deeply understanding and sharing their experience. This form of connection, where a healthcare provider actively engages with a patient’s emotions and needs, is the cornerstone of compassionate care. Empathy differs from sympathy by fostering a true relational bond that reassures patients and builds trust.
In this blog, we’ll explore the importance that empathy plays in patient interactions and examine why it’s essential in healthcare. We’ll review studies that show the positive impact of empathic doctors on patient outcomes and discuss different types of empathy. Lastly, we’ll address the challenges healthcare providers face when empathy becomes overwhelming and share practical strategies for building and sustaining empathy in daily practice.
Why does empathy matter in patient care?
When you visit a doctor, it’s usually to address a health concern or routine check-up. You may not give much thought to their age, background, or attitude beforehand; your focus is on finding answers and guidance. However, effective communication during a medical consultation goes far beyond simply exchanging information. Why? Because the way healthcare providers connect with patients deeply impacts their experience and can even influence health outcomes.
Empathy in healthcare is about more than just acknowledging a patient’s concerns. It’s the ability to truly understand and relate to their experience, emotions, and fears. This active engagement helps build a strong, trust-based relationship that supports healing and reassurance.
In a world where technology and AI are improving medical efficiency, human connection remains irreplaceable. Humans are the only ones who can provide true compassionate care to patients.
How does empathy in healthcare affect patient interactions
“Patients are more likely to follow their treatment plan and practice self-care when they feel heard and understood.” Havard, 2023.
Studies show that when doctors and nurses demonstrate empathy, patients are more likely to feel understood and respected, which directly boosts their trust and satisfaction with the healthcare experience.
For instance, a study using video-recorded consultations revealed that patients rated interactions with empathetic physicians more positively. In this research, consultations were recorded to observe how varying levels of physician empathy influenced patient outcomes. Patients who see their doctors as empathetic often feel more satisfied with their care. They also report greater trust in treatment recommendations and a higher quality of care. This connection leads to better health outcomes and makes patients more likely to follow medical advice. British Journal of General Practice.
Additionally, empathy can influence patient perceptions of competence and reduce patient anxiety, contributing to a sense of partnership and safety in the healthcare setting.
Research by Hojat et al, discovered that patients with empathetic physicians showed notable improvements in their health. Diabetic patients with more compassionate doctors had better blood sugar and cholesterol levels than those with less empathetic care, suggesting that a physician’s empathy can directly contribute to better health outcomes.
Another study reviewed 128 studies focused on empathy interventions, 80% demonstrated a significant positive impact, indicating that fostering empathy in healthcare settings can enhance both care quality and patient satisfaction.
Finally, research done last year (2024) from the University of Leicester’s Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare reviewed 14 randomised trials involving 1,986 patients across multiple continents. The findings demonstrated that greater empathy from healthcare providers led to higher patient satisfaction, emphasising empathy’s universal value in patient care.
This evidence clearly demonstrates that empathy plays a vital role in healthcare experience, directly benefiting patient outcomes, satisfaction, and trust. When doctors and nurses communicate with empathy, patients feel acknowledged and valued, making them more likely to engage with their treatment plans and maintain self-care practices.
How do we measure empathy effectively in clinical practice?
Empathy in healthcare is often measured using standardized tools like the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE), which evaluates empathy from the clinician’s perspective. Designed specifically for healthcare professionals, this validated scale measures cognitive empathy, the ability to understand a patient’s experiences and communicate that understanding effectively. The JSPE includes 20 statements rated on a 7-point scale, focusing on perspective-taking and compassionate care. It’s commonly used in medical education to track empathy development and evaluate the impact of communication training. While it offers valuable insights, especially for self-reflection, it is best complemented with patient feedback to get a fuller picture of empathetic practice.
Another method is gathering patient-reported experience measures (PREMs), where patients rate how well they felt understood and cared for. Some institutions also use 360-degree feedback from peers, nurses, and patients to get a more comprehensive view. These tools can be integrated into regular performance evaluations or training programs to monitor and promote empathetic behavior.
Challenges healthcare professionals face
Empathy also has a scientific basis. Numerous studies suggest that when we witness someone’s pain, our brain’s pain centres activate as if we are experiencing it ourselves. Researchers suggest that these mirror systems are fundamental to our capacity for empathy as they help us relate to others.
The challenge this can cause for healthcare professionals is that empathy has limits. We expect our healthcare providers to understand our feelings and empathise with us, but we also rely on them to maintain composure, especially during critical moments.
Healthcare professionals often face difficult situations involving pain, suffering, and death. To cope with these intense emotions, many develop a level of emotional detachment. This helps them manage the psychological demands of the job without feeling overwhelmed. However, maintaining this balance is challenging. Over time, it can lead to burnout, which makes it harder to stay empathetic.
What are the most effective strategies to maintain empathy over time?
Given the emotional demands of clinical work, sustaining empathy over time requires conscious effort and support. While some level of emotional detachment can be necessary for self-preservation, too much distance can erode the quality of patient care. Fortunately, there are evidence-based strategies that help healthcare professionals preserve their capacity for empathy while protecting their own well-being.
Effective strategies can include mindfulness training, reflective writing, narrative medicine workshops, and peer support groups. These help clinicians stay connected to the human side of care. Additionally, institutional support, like manageable workloads, protected time for self-care, and emotional debriefing after difficult cases, can reduce burnout and preserve empathy. Evidence suggests that programs combining personal reflection with skill-building have the greatest long-term impact.
Emotional and cognitive empathy in healthcare
Striking a balance between emotional empathy and cognitive empathy is crucial in healthcare. Emotional empathy involves sharing the patient’s emotions, so truly “feeling with” them. This form of empathy creates a deep connection, enhancing trust and patient satisfaction, but can also be emotionally exhausting for healthcare providers if experienced too intensely, like mentioned above.
Cognitive empathy, on the other hand, is the ability to understand a patient’s perspective without fully internalising their emotions. This approach allows providers to engage compassionately without becoming overwhelmed. By combining both types of empathy, healthcare professionals can connect with patients in a meaningful way. At the same time, they protect their own mental well-being and lower the risk of burnout. This balance allows them to offer compassionate care while staying resilient in demanding environments.
Practical Ways to Cultivate Empathy
Cultivating empathy in healthcare requires intentional practices that healthcare professionals can integrate into their daily interactions. Some practical approaches can include:
Active listening:
This may seem obvious, and we’ve definitely already talked about it a lot on our blogs. You may think you already have this one down, but when you’re listening to your family, friends, or patients, are you truly fully concentrating on what they are saying and their emotions behind their words? Or are you relating what they are saying to your own experiences, opinions and thinking about what you’re going to reply? Active listening is truly listening to patients without interruptions or assumptions. This helps fully understand their situation and concerns. Simple gestures, such as maintaining eye contact, nodding, and paraphrasing, show patients they are being heard and respected.
Mindful presence:
Being fully present with each patient means setting aside distractions, both mental and physical, to focus entirely on the person in front of you. This practice helps create a safe, non-judgmental space for patients, encouraging open communication and allowing providers to pick up on subtle cues that may indicate unspoken needs or anxieties.
Self-compassion:
“Self-compassion means being kind and understanding toward ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate, rather than ignoring our pain or flagellating ourselves with self-criticism.” Research shows that when practitioners take steps to manage their own well-being, they are better equipped to respond empathetically and avoid burnout, making self-care a critical aspect of sustaining empathy over time. Self compassion allows healthcare providers to extend the same understanding and care to themselves as they do others.
Empathy training:
Empathy training equips healthcare providers with essential skills that improve patient care and provider resilience. Programs that allow medical students to practice in low-stress settings build empathy without the pressures of real-time patient care. Incorporating self-compassion techniques also helps providers manage stress effectively, supporting sustained empathy throughout their careers. This practical approach fosters a compassionate, resilient healthcare environment, benefiting both patients and providers alike.
While there are many different ways to cultivate empathy, here are some examples of effective ways to practice empathy. Doctor empathy builds trust and a sense of safety in patients. It could determine whether or not patients feel that they are being heard and understood, overall patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment. It is necessary that medical training emphasises it.
How can Videolab help with empathy training?
While Videolab can not specifically teach empathy to students, Videolab has shown to improve these skills by leveraging self reflection and feedback methodologies.
Videolab is an innovative video-based feedback platform, enabling students to share consultations with professors or peers, facilitating valuable feedback and reflective practice.
Recording interactions can significantly improve empathy training by allowing healthcare professionals to reflect on their communication style and receive targeted feedback. When providers review recorded interactions, they can identify moments where they might have missed subtle emotional cues, allowing for a deeper understanding of their patients’ needs.
Structured feedback on these recordings helps reinforce active listening, non-verbal empathy, and other key skills, enabling providers to adjust their approach in real-time interactions. Additionally, watching their own and peers’ recordings helps professionals learn from various perspectives, fostering a supportive learning environment and creating more effective, empathetic patient care. Learn more on peer feedback here.
Final remarks
This blog helps underline why empathy is not merely an added benefit but an essential component of quality care that can lead to more effective and fulfilling patient-provider interactions. It helps healthcare providers not only address clinical issues but also understand patients on a human level, acknowledging their fears, emotions, and perspectives.
Balancing emotions, specifically empathy can be challenging in high stress environments – through active listening, mindfulness, empathy training can be improved. As we move forward in an increasingly automated world, empathy remains an irreplaceable element of truly effective and humane healthcare.
