Empathy in Practice: Comparing Physicians’ Self-Assessment and Patient Perceptions Using the Jefferson Scales

Background: Empathy is essential for effective patient care, improving communication, satisfaction, and compliance. This study was done to assess empathy levels in a tertiary care center in South India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study among 40 physicians from various specialties assessed physician empathy using the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy–Health Professionals version (JSE-HP) and patient perceptions using the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy (JSPPPE). Five patients per physician participated. Data were collected from January to June 2024, and was analyzed by a t-paired and ANOVA tests and a multilevel linear mixed-effects model. Results: A total of 200 patient–physician encounters were analyzed. Most physicians were under 50 years (90%), and patients were aged 19–85 years. Mean physician self-empathy (JSE) was 74.5 ± 8.6, and mean patient-perceived empathy (JSPPPE) was 31.0 ± 4.6. No correlation was observed between self- and patient-rated empathy (ρ = −0.06, p = 0.71). In multilevel analysis, self-empathy was not associated with patient-perceived empathy (β = −0.05, 95% CI [−0.15, 0.06], p = 0.37). Physician age, gender, and specialty were not significant predictors. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.066) indicated 7% of variance in patient empathy scores was due to physician-level differences. Conclusion: A disparity exists between physicians’ self-perceived and patient-rated empathy. Experienced physicians and those in patient-centered specialties are rated higher. Regular empathy training and feedback can align self-perceptions with patient expectations, improving communication and care quality.