It seems like healthcare is moving at a faster pace than ever before. Many providers are being asked to see more patients, which in turn limits the amount of time they can spend with each patient if they want to keep their schedule on track, and this can cause the doctor-patient relationship to suffer. We always want to spend as much time as needed with each patient to give them the attention they deserve, but a new study found that this extra level of care can actually make a difference in patient outcomes. In today’s blog, we explore how working with an empathetic pain specialist can help patients achieve better outcomes when trying to treat low back pain.
Empathy And Back Pain Treatment
To get a better understanding of the role a physician plays in helping a patient achieve the best outcomes, researchers at the University of North Texas Health Science Center observed patients with lower back pain over the course of the year. After their interactions with a provider, nearly 1,500 study participants were asked to complete a survey aimed at assessing a doctor’s empathy level. Examples of questions that were asked include:
“Did the doctor make you feel at ease?”
Did the doctor explain things clearly and show care and compassion?”
From these answers, researchers were able to rate a doctor as “very empathetic” or “slightly empathetic.” After taking a look at treatment results over the course of the year, researchers found that patients who rated their physicians as very empathetic were much more likely to experience better treatment outcomes than those working with a physician rated slightly empathetic.
“Nobody’s done any real long-term studies, such as the one we’ve done here for 12 months,” said John Licciardone,” Regents professor of family medicine at University of North Texas Health Science Center and first author of the study. “Empathy is associated with better outcomes, but they’re also outcomes that really appear to last for a long period of time.”
According to the data, patients with a very empathetic physician reported at the end of the study that they:
- Had less pain
- Were less likely to feel depressed
- Were less likely to have anxiety or similar conditions that negatively affected their quality of life
Dr. Sinicropi and his team always try to go above and beyond for their patients and empathize with their unique situations. Although back pain is incredibly common, it can be an isolating experience because the condition is unique to the individual. While your back doctor may not know exactly what you’re going through, odds are they have helped a number of people with very similar issues and have a much more thorough understanding of what you’re dealing with. These providers need to take this time to empathize with the patient and ensure their needs are being met, because as we can see with the study, it can actually improve patient outcomes.
Of course there are some limitations with the study, but if providing the highest level of care is truly something that a physician strives for, then they need to empathize with each and every patient. It’s not always easy, but it will be worth it. Let our team show you that we can provide you with this high standard of care if you’re dealing with a new or existing back issue. For more information, or to set up your first appointment, pick up the phone and call Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
