The Role of Physician Empathy, Patient Trust and Coping Resilience on Compliance to Treatment Regimen
Advisor Information
Lisa Scherer
Location
MBSC Gallery Room 308 - U
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
4-3-2022 9:00 AM
End Date
4-3-2022 10:15 AM
Abstract
Few studies have simultaneously examined patient, physician, and treatment plan characteristics on patient adherence in the same study, thus neglecting the interaction among these variables in influencing patient behavior. Given the importance of patient adherence, researchers have failed to examine the mediating relationship of perceived empathy of physician between patient knowledge and understanding of treatment plan and patient adherence to treatment plan. Therefore, it is predicted that physician empathy will influence patient adherence through its impact on patients’ knowledge of their treatment plan.
We obtained a community sample of 273 participants ranging in ages from 19 to 77, with the average participant being 30.97 years old. The majority of our participants were single white females that have seen their doctor within a month before participating in this survey.
We obtained these participants through anonymous paper and electronic versions of the survey. The survey examined questions assessing the primary study variables, including their adherence to physician treatment regimen, perception of physician empathy, knowledge of their treatment plan, individual perceptions of their general health and demographics. The responses were recorded on Qualtrics and were analyzed using SPSS Analysis.
The Hayes Process Macro (Model 4) was used to test the hypothesis. As predicted, patient perception of physician empathy had both a direct effect on patient adherence (Effect = 0.12, t = 4.6, p < .0000) and an indirect effect on patient adherence through patient knowledge [Effect = 0.03, 95% C.I (0.01, 0.07)]. These results demonstrate the importance of physician empathy. A perceived lack of physician empathy appears to reduce patient understanding and knowledge of their treatment plan, which in turn influences their adherence. Because adherence is so closely related to patient health outcomes, future research should continue to examine the psychological effects of the physician-patient relationship.
Scheduling Link
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The Role of Physician Empathy, Patient Trust and Coping Resilience on Compliance to Treatment Regimen
MBSC Gallery Room 308 - U
Few studies have simultaneously examined patient, physician, and treatment plan characteristics on patient adherence in the same study, thus neglecting the interaction among these variables in influencing patient behavior. Given the importance of patient adherence, researchers have failed to examine the mediating relationship of perceived empathy of physician between patient knowledge and understanding of treatment plan and patient adherence to treatment plan. Therefore, it is predicted that physician empathy will influence patient adherence through its impact on patients’ knowledge of their treatment plan.
We obtained a community sample of 273 participants ranging in ages from 19 to 77, with the average participant being 30.97 years old. The majority of our participants were single white females that have seen their doctor within a month before participating in this survey.
We obtained these participants through anonymous paper and electronic versions of the survey. The survey examined questions assessing the primary study variables, including their adherence to physician treatment regimen, perception of physician empathy, knowledge of their treatment plan, individual perceptions of their general health and demographics. The responses were recorded on Qualtrics and were analyzed using SPSS Analysis.
The Hayes Process Macro (Model 4) was used to test the hypothesis. As predicted, patient perception of physician empathy had both a direct effect on patient adherence (Effect = 0.12, t = 4.6, p < .0000) and an indirect effect on patient adherence through patient knowledge [Effect = 0.03, 95% C.I (0.01, 0.07)]. These results demonstrate the importance of physician empathy. A perceived lack of physician empathy appears to reduce patient understanding and knowledge of their treatment plan, which in turn influences their adherence. Because adherence is so closely related to patient health outcomes, future research should continue to examine the psychological effects of the physician-patient relationship.