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Table 2 Interview guide: Empathy in the medical education

From: Empathy as a learning objective in medical education: using phenomenology of learning theory to explore medical students’ learning processes

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?