Review Article
Year: 2018 | Month: February | Volume: 8 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 233-240
Empathy in the Health Professions: An Ally in the Care of Patients with Chronic Diseases
Dr Michael I. Kourakos1, Dr Eugenia D. Vlachou2, Dr Martha N. Kelesi2
1Director of nursing, General Hospital "Asklepieio" Voulas, Athens, Greece.
2Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Greece.
Corresponding Author: Dr Michael I. Kourakos
ABSTRACT
Chronic diseases and conditions are among the most common health problems and are often poorly controlled. The ability to recognize a patient’s emotions is an important part of a healthcare provider’s communication skills but chronic disease management is an area where patient concerns are often inadequately addressed. Empathy, which has been described as one of the most frequently reported humanistic components of patient care and an important component of professionalism in medicine can become a valuable ally when considering the care of chronically ill patients.
Key words: chronically ill, empathy, patient care, skills