Training in empathic skills improves the patient-physician relationship during the first consultation in a fertility clinic

Objective: To evaluate the effect of physician training in empathic skills on patients' satisfaction just after their first consultation in a private fertility clinic setting. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Private fertility clinic. Patient(s): Thirteen physicians were evaluated by 2,146 patients. Intervention(s): The empathic training of physicians was centered on emotional intelligence, communication elements, social styles and empathy, and practical workshops. After their first consultation with the physician, patients answered a self-rating questionnaire comprising five scales: information provided, dynamic of the visit, time dedicated, patient-physician interaction, and expertise. Main Outcome Measure(s): Patients' satisfaction scores after the empathic training of physicians. Result(s): For all five scales, the empathic training resulted in a significant change of the global scoring distribution with a shift toward higher scores. The intervention also resulted in a lower likelihood of low scoring (in the lower quartile) for all the items. Conclusion(s): Training in empathic skills of physicians resulted in higher patient satisfaction levels on the perceived information quality, communication skills, and time dedicated at first consultation for fertility treatment. (Fertil Steril (R) 2013;99:1413-8. (C) 2013 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)