Compassionate-empathic physicians: Personality traits and social-organizational factors that enhance or inhibit this behavior pattern

Compassionate-empathic physicians (CEPs) are desired by patients, but rarely found in medical settings. The purpose of this study was to promote our understanding of this gap by determining personal characteristics that distinguish CEPs from other physicians, and organizational factors that might enhance or inhibit physicians' compassionate-empathic behavior (CEB). In the first stage of the study, three groups of physicians who differed in their compassionate-empathic pattern of behavior toward patients were identified by a sociometric questionnaire distributed to 324 physicians in a general hospital. In the second stage, almost all of these physicians (N = 308) were asked to fill out a self administered structured questionnaire, and 214 (69.5%) responded. Comparisons among the three groups show that the physicians identified as CEPs, more than other physicians, are younger, have fewer years in medical practice, and score higher on pro-social, non-stereotypic attitudes toward patients and on empathy measures. Their self-esteem is, however, similar to that of the non-CEPs. The CEPs express similar levels of satisfaction with work on most dimensions, but they report more emotional exhaustion (burnout) than other physicians. A consensus among all physicians was found with regard to two rank orders: (a) the important qualities for being "a good physician"; and (b) the important qualities for being promoted in the hospital. However, while empathic behavior was considered the most important quality for being "a good physician", it was ranked as the least important for being promoted in the hospital. The conclusions can serve as a scientific base for improving methods of selection of medical students, and for re-evaluating the existent criteria for promoting medical staff in general hospitals.