Introductory questions: |
- Which university are you from? |
- Which semester and year? |
- Why did you choose to study medicine? |
Theme 1: Understanding of empathy |
To begin with, I would like to ask you some questions relating to your understanding of what empathy is as a general concept, turning then to how you see empathy expressed in a clinical context |
- How would you describe/define empathy as a concept? (e.g., an ability (something one is born with), a skill that can be taught/learned, something that arises in the situation? To feel/fusion with other people’s feelings (sympathy) or to imagine how the other person feels (empathy))? |
- According to you, how is empathy displayed in the clinic (e.g., in the meeting between health care provider-patient/patient relatives)? |
- Do you think that there can be different ways of showing empathy? If yes, what might these look like? |
Theme 2: Empathy in the medical educational context |
Now I am interested in hearing more about which role empathy plays in your educational context and how you view the relationship between your education and empathy development among students |
- In your experience, how is empathy adressed as part of your education – e.g., by faculty, peers and clinicians? (e.g., could you describe how the humanities subjects/empathy-enhancing subjects are integrated into your medical curriculum?) |
- According to you, should empathy have more or less attention in the educational context? |
- Which educational processes do you perceive to enhance and/or inhibit learning empathy and patient-centred, empathic communication? |
- In what way might your personal empathy have changed during your education? |
Theme 3: The perceived personal and clinical consequences of empathy |
Now I am interested in hearing your opinion on what empathy might lead to on a personal and clinical level |
- Could you describe what you perceive as positive/negative consequences for both the physician and patient of empathy? |
- What are your thoughts on the relationship between empathy, stress and/or burnout? |
- Do you think that you are/will be able to self-regulate your empathy in order to maintain a good mental health as a student/physician? |
Closing comments: |
Do you have any other comments to the theme of today that you would like to mention? |