Empathic ResponsesEmpathic Responses

DR/Fatma Al-thoubaityDR/Fatma Al-thoubaitySurgical Consultant Surgical Consultant Assisstant ProfessorAssisstant Professor

Types Of Empathic Types Of Empathic ResponsesResponses

1.1. Judging Response.Judging Response.

2.2. Advising Response.Advising Response.

3.3. Placating or Reassuring Placating or Reassuring Response.Response.

4.4. Distracting Response.Distracting Response.

5.5. Understanding Response.Understanding Response.

Judging ResponseJudging Response

Judge or evaluate another ’s Judge or evaluate another ’s feelings.feelings.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

Tell patients in various ways Tell patients in various ways that:that:

They should not feel discouraged They should not feel discouraged or frustrated.or frustrated.

That They should not worry.That They should not worry.

That they should not question That they should not question their treatment by other health their treatment by other health professionals. professionals.

Disadvantages of Judging Disadvantages of Judging ResponseResponse

Any message from you that Any message from you that indicates you think patients are indicates you think patients are wrong or bad or that they should wrong or bad or that they should not feel the way they do will not feel the way they do will indicate that it is not safe to indicate that it is not safe to confide in you.confide in you.

Less helpful type of response.Less helpful type of response.

Advising ResponseAdvising Response

It is part of the professional It is part of the professional responsibility to give patients responsibility to give patients advise.advise.

The presumptuous is to feel that The presumptuous is to feel that we can offer a quick solution to we can offer a quick solution to another personal concerns.another personal concerns.

Disadvantages of advising Disadvantages of advising responseresponse

The best source of solution to a The best source of solution to a problem is within the patient.problem is within the patient.

Relying on others for advise Relying on others for advise may keep patients may keep patients dependent ,because they see dependent ,because they see others as the source of problem others as the source of problem solving.solving.

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

Placating or Reassuring Placating or Reassuring responseresponse

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

Disadvantages Disadvantages

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

Distracting Response Distracting Response

Many times we get out of Many times we get out of situations to which we do not situations to which we do not know how to respond by simply know how to respond by simply changing the subject.changing the subject.

Or to protect ourselves we cut Or to protect ourselves we cut off patient off patient ‘s communication of ‘s communication of feelings.feelings.

We may try to show them that We may try to show them that things are not as bad as they things are not as bad as they seem.seem.

We may direct the We may direct the communication to subjects we communication to subjects we feel comfortable with such as feel comfortable with such as medication regimens.medication regimens.

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

Understanding ResponseUnderstanding Response

A patient who feels discouraged A patient who feels discouraged or angry often needs simply:or angry often needs simply:

To know that others understand.To know that others understand. The doctors can be helpful by The doctors can be helpful by

showing concern and showing concern and understanding.understanding.

You must be genuine or sincere You must be genuine or sincere in the relationship.in the relationship.

Respect and acceptance of the Respect and acceptance of the patient.patient.

Positive feeling for patients and Positive feeling for patients and no negative judgement,will allow no negative judgement,will allow them to be more open in their them to be more open in their communication with you.communication with you.

Setting limits in the relationship Setting limits in the relationship is ok.is ok.

Problems in establishing Problems in establishing helping relationshipshelping relationships

There are countless sources of There are countless sources of problems in interpersonal problems in interpersonal communication between doctors communication between doctors & patient.& patient.

Certain doctor attitudes & Certain doctor attitudes & behaviors are particularly behaviors are particularly damaging in establishing damaging in establishing helping relationship with patient.helping relationship with patient.

These include These include stereotybing,debersonalizing, stereotybing,debersonalizing, and controlling behaviors.and controlling behaviors.

stereotybingstereotybing

Negative stereotypes held by Negative stereotypes held by health care practitioners that health care practitioners that affect the quality of their affect the quality of their communication.communication.

If you hold certain stereotypes of If you hold certain stereotypes of patient you may fail to listen patient you may fail to listen without judgement.without judgement.

We must know what stereotypes We must know what stereotypes we hold & how these may effect we hold & how these may effect the care.the care.

We must see the patient as an We must see the patient as an individual.individual.

Depersonalizing Depersonalizing

There are a number of ways in There are a number of ways in which communication with a which communication with a patient can become patient can become depersonalized.depersonalized.

We may also focus We may also focus communication on problems and communication on problems and cases.cases.

This is a rigid communication This is a rigid communication format.format.

Controlling Controlling

Some beliefs such as perceived Some beliefs such as perceived personal control & optimism personal control & optimism actually protect both:actually protect both:

The mental & physical of The mental & physical of individual. individual.

Intervention to increase levels of Intervention to increase levels of patient participation & control in patient participation & control in the provider-patient relationship.the provider-patient relationship.

Have yielded positive results Have yielded positive results that include improved clinical & that include improved clinical & quality of life outcomes.quality of life outcomes.

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