Empathic Responses DRFatma Althoubaity Surgical Consultant Assisstant Professor

Empathic Responses DR/Fatma Al-thoubaity Surgical Consultant Assisstant Professor

Types Of Empathic Responses 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Judging Response. Advising Response. Placating or Reassuring Response. Distracting Response. Understanding Response.

Judging Response n Judge or evaluate another ’s feelings.

EXAMPLE Tell patients in various ways that: They should not feel discouraged or frustrated. That They should not worry. That they should not question their treatment by other health professionals. n

Disadvantages of Judging Response Any message from you that indicates you think patients are wrong or bad or that they should not feel the way they do will indicate that it is not safe to confide in you. n Less helpful type of response. n

Advising Response It is part of the professional responsibility to give patients advise. n The presumptuous is to feel that we can offer a quick solution to another personal concerns. n

Disadvantages of advising response The best source of solution to a problem is within the patient. n Relying on others for advise may keep patients dependent , because they see others as the source of problem solving. n

n There are times when patient are not capable of coping with their one feelings or problems.

Placating or Reassuring response n Telling a patient who is facing surgery do not worry I am sure your surgery will turn out just fine.

Disadvantages n It may seems to be helpful but it is really conveying that the person should not feel upset.

Distracting Response Many times we get out of situations to which we do not know how to respond by simply changing the subject. n Or to protect ourselves we cut off patient ‘s communication of feelings. n

We may try to show them that things are not as bad as they seem. n We may direct the communication to subjects we feel comfortable with such as medication regimens. n

n These responses tend to convey to patients that we are not listening and perhaps that we do not want to listen.

Understanding Response A patient who feels discouraged or angry often needs simply: n To know that others understand. n The doctors can be helpful by showing concern and understanding. n

You must be genuine or sincere in the relationship. n Respect and acceptance of the patient. n

Positive feeling for patients and no negative judgement, will allow them to be more open in their communication with you. n Setting limits in the relationship is ok. n

Problems in establishing helping relationships There are countless sources of problems in interpersonal communication between doctors & patient. n Certain doctor attitudes & behaviors are particularly damaging in establishing helping relationship with patient. n

n These include stereotybing, debersonalizing, and controlling behaviors.

stereotybing Negative stereotypes held by health care practitioners that affect the quality of their communication. n If you hold certain stereotypes of patient you may fail to listen without judgement. n

We must know what stereotypes we hold & how these may effect the care. n We must see the patient as an individual. n

Depersonalizing There a number of ways in which communication with a patient can become depersonalized. n We may also focus communication on problems and cases. n This is a rigid communication format. n

Controlling Some beliefs such as perceived personal control & optimism actually protect both: n The mental & physical of individual. n

Intervention to increase levels of patient participation & control in the provider-patient relationship. n Have yielded positive results that include improved clinical & quality of life outcomes. n

n What are the different type of response and give example of each?