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Physician empathy linked to better outcomes in chronic pain patients
Physician empathy is an important aspect in a doctor-patient relationship, and now it has been linked to better outcomes among people with chronic pain, a new study finds. The study, led by The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, was published Thursday in JAMA Network Open. Patients under the care of very empathic physicians reported experiencing much better and clinically relevant outcomes related to pain, function and health-related quality of life over 12 months compared with those managed by slightly empathic physicians. Physician empathy was more strongly associated with favorable outcomes than nonpharmacological treatments, opioid therapy and lumbar spine surgery, the researchers noted.
Source: UPI