Let’s talk about empathy!

Abstract Background Research faces a challenge to find a shared, adequate and scientific definition of empathy. Objective Our work aimed to analyze what clinical empathy is in the specific context of cancer care and to identify the effect of empathy in it. Method This study gives voice to physicians with extensive experience in cancer care. This original research combines qualitative data collection and quantitative data analysis. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 25 physicians. The content of the interviews was analyzed according to the Content Analysis Technique. Results Empathy is described according to six dimensions that give a strong role to interpersonal and cognitive skills. This description integrates previous and various conceptualizations of clinical empathy. Physicians detail the beneficial effects of clinical empathy on patients’ outcomes and well-being as well as physicians’ practices. Physician interviews also revealed the relationship between empathic concerns and physicians’ emotional difficulties. Conclusion Empathy in cancer care is a complex process and a multicomponent competence. Practice implications This operational description of clinical empathy has three main implications: to draw up a training program for physicians, to detail recommendations for physicians’ work-related quality of life and to develop new tools to measure empathy.