The lived experience of clinical empathy for Australian medical professionals

INTRODUCTION: There is limited published research on doctors' perspectives of clinical empathy in their practice and throughout the medical career stages. This study sought to explore the experiences of clinical empathy and expectations of effective emotional communication among Australian doctors throughout their career stages. METHODS: Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed to report on findings from in-depth interviews with 11 practicing doctors from various training levels and specialties. RESULTS: The major themes reveal insight into the complexities of how doctors experience clinical empathy throughout the medical career stages. The four major themes were: The evolution of medical education, Moving from doctor-centred to patient-centred care, Not being able to give enough and the Influence of cumulative experience. DISCUSSION: This study reveals insight into the revolutionary shift towards more empathic patient-centred medical practice and clinical education over the last 30 years. Exploration of doctors' experiences across career stages acknowledges their foundational learning experience, adaptation of empathic communication to different clinical settings with different stakes, and influence of cumulative life and career experience. Despite its challenges of empathic pain and structural factors, clinical empathy was found to play a restorative role for doctors in overcoming these challenges and enhancing meaningful fulfilment in their careers.