When is “I’m Sorry” Not Enough?: An exploration of breaking bad news in a simulated clinical setting
Presenter Type
UNO Undergraduate Student
Major/Field of Study
Sociology and Anthropology
Other
Medical Humanities
Advisor Information
Dr. Timi Barone
Location
CEC RM #201/205/209
Presentation Type
Poster
Poster Size
36x24
Start Date
22-3-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
22-3-2024 10:15 AM
Abstract
When is “I’m sorry” sympathy vs. empathy in a patient encounter? Is there an additional nuance? Literature suggests empathetic patient care is associated with better outcomes for patients and providers. In this study we analyzed video recorded standardized patient encounters (n=48) occurring as part of the Physician Assistant (PA) program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This project represents baseline data before the inclusion of health humanities curriculum designed with the goal of building empathy in PA students. The scenario involved PA students breaking bad news to the patient. While the PA program assesses breaking bad news performance holistically, this study focuses on a single facet of empathetic communication: saying “I’m sorry” to a patient. We tracked the frequency of the phrase “I’m sorry” as well as where and how it occurred during the encounter. We used a pile sort method to generate four themes: I’m Sorry: For me, I’m Sorry: From we to you, I’m Sorry: Limitations, I’m Sorry: With you. Results indicate the most frequent theme was a reactive and unreflective sympathetic perspective “I’m sorry: For Me”. While this theme acknowledges the patient’s difficult situation, other themes were more empathetic. Interestingly, one theme involved feeling inadequate in their helping limitations as a provider (I’m sorry: Limitations). Given that empathy can be learned, the results of this study provide support for the inclusion of health humanities into PA curriculum.
When is “I’m Sorry” Not Enough?: An exploration of breaking bad news in a simulated clinical setting
CEC RM #201/205/209
When is “I’m sorry” sympathy vs. empathy in a patient encounter? Is there an additional nuance? Literature suggests empathetic patient care is associated with better outcomes for patients and providers. In this study we analyzed video recorded standardized patient encounters (n=48) occurring as part of the Physician Assistant (PA) program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This project represents baseline data before the inclusion of health humanities curriculum designed with the goal of building empathy in PA students. The scenario involved PA students breaking bad news to the patient. While the PA program assesses breaking bad news performance holistically, this study focuses on a single facet of empathetic communication: saying “I’m sorry” to a patient. We tracked the frequency of the phrase “I’m sorry” as well as where and how it occurred during the encounter. We used a pile sort method to generate four themes: I’m Sorry: For me, I’m Sorry: From we to you, I’m Sorry: Limitations, I’m Sorry: With you. Results indicate the most frequent theme was a reactive and unreflective sympathetic perspective “I’m sorry: For Me”. While this theme acknowledges the patient’s difficult situation, other themes were more empathetic. Interestingly, one theme involved feeling inadequate in their helping limitations as a provider (I’m sorry: Limitations). Given that empathy can be learned, the results of this study provide support for the inclusion of health humanities into PA curriculum.