Empathy in doctors appears to be linked to better chronic pain management.

A recent study involved 1,470 patients suffering from chronic pain who were asked to evaluate their doctors on empathy. 

The patients were followed over a year, and the results were clear: those who rated their doctors as very empathetic reported “significantly better and clinically relevant outcomes” in terms of pain intensity, back-related disability, and overall health-related quality of life.

“Physician empathy was associated with better outcomes among patients with chronic pain,” the research paper highlighted. 

This included more favourable results than those achieved through non-pharmacological treatments, opioid therapy, and even lumbar spine surgery.

Doctors were categorised into 'very empathic', 'slightly empathic', and 'least empathic' groups based on the Consultation and Relational Empathy measure. It turned out, the empathy a doctor displayed could predict patient improvement.

“This shows empathy can have positive outcomes for chronic pain patients,” the researchers said, suggesting that medical professionals should focus on empathy as a crucial aspect of patient care. 

“Greater efforts to cultivate and improve physician empathy appear warranted,” they concluded.