ObjectiveEmpathy and empathy education have been reviewed a number of times through systematic reviews and meta-analyses; however, the topic of ‘empathetic communication’ remains poorly understood when considering engaging in hospital-based research. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to explore the existing literature concerning empathetic communication in hospital settings and to evaluate the definitions presented.DesignScoping review.Data sourcesSystematic searches of the PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and PsycArticles databases were conducted.Study selectionAll English studies in which empathetic communication in hospital settings were explored. The search terms used included empathy, communication, hospital settings, providers, and consumers.Data extractionData were assessed through the use of a pre-set analysis tool.ResultsAfter conducting the searches, 419 articles were identified, of which 26 were included in this review. No single article specifically defined the term ‘empathetic communication’; however, 33 unique definitions of ‘empathy’ were identified, of which 23 considered communication to be a component of empathy. There was a considerable lack of consistency between the empathy definitions, with some classifying communication in empathy as an ability and others classifying it as a dynamic process.ConclusionFuture and contextually focused research is needed to develop a consistent and clear definition of empathetic communication and empathy within a hospital setting to better build positive healthcare cultures.Practice implicationsInconsistencies between definitions of empathy in empathetic communication research could reduce the efficacy of future research gains and impact the translation of research findings into clinical practice.
Synopsis Involving patients as partners in research enables their concerns, perspectives, lived experiences, and priorities to be integrated into research. Involving patient partners improves research processes, outcomes, and translating findings into practice. Although musculoskeletal researchers consider that it is important to involve patient partners, few projects involve them. Researchers who involve patient partners report that the contributions of patient partners are very valuable, and researchers perceive the process to be less challenging than expected. Musculoskeletal research is staring at a significant unrealized opportunity to enhance the quality and impact of research and reduce research waste—think what the field could achieve if researchers and patients worked better together. A culture change is needed so that involving patient partners in musculoskeletal research becomes standard practice, expected and supported by funders, journals, research institutions, and researchers alike. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2022;52(6):307–311. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.10986
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