Empathy in general practice: a survey of its essential levers

Empathy lies at the heart of the doctor-patient relationship, with a positive impact on both patient and practitioner. The aims of our work were to determine the sociodemographic and professional factors associated with GPs' clinical empathy, and the link between empathy and psychological distress (anxiety and depression) in this population.We conducted a study of general practitioners. We used a semi-structured questionnaire with variables relating to socio-demographic characteristics, professional practice characteristics and organizational parameters of professional practice. We used the Jefferson Empathy Scale to assess empathy in physicians, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to assess anxiety and depressive symptomatology.The determinants of empathy in GPs are not yet fully elucidated. For this reason, large-sample studies are needed.

Autorentext
University Hospital Assistant in Psychiatry at CHU Hédi Chaker in Sfax, in the "Psychiatry A" department. A graduate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT), she provides outpatient consultations for mood disorders, and participates in liaison psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, emergency psychiatry and psychotherapy.