What are the most effective ways to measure empathy training success?

1 Self-report measures

One of the simplest and most widely used ways to measure empathy training success is to ask the physicians themselves. Self-report measures are questionnaires or surveys that ask the physicians to rate their own empathy levels, skills, attitudes, and behaviors. For example, the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) is a 20-item scale that measures the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of empathy. Self-report measures are easy to administer and score, but they have some limitations. They may be influenced by social desirability, self-awareness, and recall bias. They may also not reflect the actual empathy experienced or expressed by the physicians in real situations.

4 Physiological measures

A fourth way to measure empathy training success is to monitor the physicians' physiological responses. Physiological measures are a form of biological evaluation that uses sensors or devices to measure the changes in the physicians' heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, or brain activity when they empathize with their patients. For example, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) is a tool that measures the physiological synchrony between the physicians and the patients, which indicates the degree of emotional resonance and empathy. Physiological measures can provide a more direct and objective measure of empathy than self-report, patient feedback, or behavioral observation, as they can reveal the unconscious and automatic aspects of empathy in real or simulated situations. However, physiological measures may also have some limitations. They may be invasive, intrusive, and uncomfortable for the physicians or the patients. They may also not capture the cognitive and behavioral aspects of empathy that are essential for effective communication and decision-making.

5 Multimodal measures

A fifth and final way to measure empathy training success is to combine different methods and sources of data. Multimodal measures are a form of comprehensive evaluation that uses a mix of self-report, patient feedback, behavioral observation, and physiological measures to assess the empathy of the physicians from multiple perspectives and dimensions. For example, the Empathy Training Evaluation Model (ETEM) is a framework that integrates the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of empathy, as well as the individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors that influence empathy. Multimodal measures can provide a more holistic and robust measure of empathy than any single method, as they can capture the complexity and diversity of empathy in various contexts and outcomes. However, multimodal measures may also have some limitations. They may be challenging to design, implement, and analyze. They may also require more resources, collaboration, and coordination among different stakeholders.

Empathy training is an important and beneficial intervention for physicians, but it needs to be evaluated effectively to ensure its quality and impact. By using one or more of the methods discussed in this article, you can measure the empathy training success of your physicians and improve their skills, attitudes, and behaviors. You can also use the results to provide feedback, guidance, and support to your physicians, as well as to refine and optimize your empathy training program.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?