A Franco-Swiss study examined the determinants of patient-perceived physician empathy (PPPE) and found that three key factors shape how patients with chronic conditions perceive physician empathy: consultation length, frequency of visits, and type of diagnosis. 

Why Empathy Matters

In clinical practice, empathy refers to understanding and reflecting on a patient’s emotional state while maintaining constructive discussions about care. Physician empathy has been linked to better clinical outcomes, improved prescribing practices, stronger therapeutic alliances, patient satisfaction, adherence, and reduced healthcare costs. These benefits occur only if empathy is perceived by the patient, making perception central to its impact. 

Clinical empathy involves active listening centered on the patient, enabling them to feel understood while remaining constructive and positive, and discussing a care plan or actions together. This skill is now regarded as essential in daily practice. However, its benefits are only realized when empathy is perceived by the patient. 

Study Design

The study enrolled 50 physicians and 762 consecutive adult patients with at least one chronic condition, between February 2019 and January 2020. Researchers recorded physician and work environment data, including gender, age, practice setting, and caseloads. 

Physicians filled in patients’ diseases, and patients filled in validated self-reported questionnaires on their health, emotional skills — such as the ability to identify, express, and regulate emotions — and their perception of 10 physician empathic behaviors, measured using the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) scale, a 10-item, 5-point Likert scale that provides an overall score, with a higher score indicating higher empathy.

The mean CARE score was 45 on a scale of 10-50, indicating high overall empathy ratings. However, several factors influenced these results.

• Frequency of doctor visits: The median PPPE score was higher, indicating higher empathy, in patients who had seven or more consultations with the physician in the last 12 months.
• Type of diagnosis: Patients with genitourinary or upper gastrointestinal conditions had lower PPPE scores.
• Duration of Consultation: In consultations ≤ 20 min, the positive effect of longer consultations on PPPE was stronger in patients with low self-reported emotional skills.

This story was translated from Univadis France .