start-ver=1.4
cd-journal=joma
no-vol=37
cd-vols=
no-issue=6
article-no=
start-page=1258
end-page=1266
dt-received=
dt-revised=
dt-accepted=
dt-pub-year=2015
dt-pub=201512
dt-online=
en-article=
kn-article=
en-subject=
kn-subject=
en-title=
kn-title=Exploring autistic-like traits relating to empathic attitude and psychological distress in hospital pharmacists
en-subtitle=
kn-subtitle=
en-abstract=
kn-abstract=BACKGROUND:
Pharmacists are expected to play a key role in modern cancer care. Research suggests that an empathic approach and attitude in medical staff improves the quality of patient care. An empathic attitude and psychological distress are thought to be associated with autistic-like traits, but little is known about such traits.
OBJECTIVE:
In this study, we aimed to clarify the associations among autistic-like traits, empathic attitude in a medical context, and psychological health in hospital pharmacists.
SETTING:
Eligibility criteria for inclusion were certified pharmacists working at hospitals for patient care who returned their questionnaires.
METHOD:
Eight hundred and twenty-three hospital pharmacists completed a number of self-administered questionnaires anonymously by mail.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Scores were obtained on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, the General Health Questionnaire-12, and subscales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Perspective Taking, IRI-Empathic Concern, IRIPersonal Distress). We performed correlation and mediation analyses to confirm that the empathy and general health questionnaires were associated with autism-spectrum quotient scores, and with each IRI subscale.
RESULTS:
Complete responses were obtained from 379 pharmacists comprising 151 males (39.8 %) with a mean age of 37.7 �} 10.8 years (missing data, n = 13) and a median of 11 years after qualification as a pharmacist. Autism-Spectrum Quotient scores were inversely correlated with empathy (r = -0.22, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with general health scores (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). In the models with mediation, the inverse correlation between autism-spectrum quotient and empathy scores was mediated indirectly by IRI-Perspective Taking and IRI-Empathic Concern, and the positive correlation between autism-spectrum quotient and general health was mediated indirectly by IRI-Personal Distress. There were also direct effects, with significant effects of autism-spectrum quotient on empathy and general health scores.
CONCLUSION:
Our findings suggest that autistic-like traits affect both empathic attitude in a medical context and the psychological health of pharmacists. We recommend that to improve empathy in those with high levels of autistic-like traits, we may need to develop specialized interventions, such as improving communication skills training.
en-copyright=
kn-copyright=

en-aut-name=HiguchiYuji 
en-aut-sei=Higuchi
en-aut-mei=Yuji 
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=1
ORCID=

en-aut-name=UchitomiYosuke
en-aut-sei=Uchitomi
en-aut-mei=Yosuke
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=2
ORCID=

en-aut-name=FujimoriMaiko
en-aut-sei=Fujimori
en-aut-mei=Maiko
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=3
ORCID=

en-aut-name=KoyamaToshihiro
en-aut-sei=Koyama
en-aut-mei=Toshihiro
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=4
ORCID=

en-aut-name=KataokaHitomi
en-aut-sei=Kataoka
en-aut-mei=Hitomi
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=5
ORCID=

en-aut-name=KitamuraYoshihisa
en-aut-sei=Kitamura
en-aut-mei=Yoshihisa
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=6
ORCID=

en-aut-name=SendoToshiaki
en-aut-sei=Sendo
en-aut-mei=Toshiaki
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=7
ORCID=

en-aut-name=InagakiMasatoshi
en-aut-sei=Inagaki
en-aut-mei=Masatoshi
kn-aut-name=
kn-aut-sei=
kn-aut-mei=
aut-affil-num=8
ORCID=

affil-num=1
en-affil=Department of NeuropsychiatryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=2
en-affil=Innovation Center for Supportive, Palliative and Psychosocial CareNational Cancer Center
kn-affil=

affil-num=3
en-affil=Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental HealthNational Center for Neurology and Psychiatry
kn-affil=

affil-num=4
en-affil=Department of Clinical PharmacyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=5
en-affil=Department of Primary Care and Medical EducationOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=6
en-affil=Department of Clinical PharmacyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=7
en-affil=Department of Clinical PharmacyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
kn-affil=

affil-num=8
en-affil=Department of NeuropsychiatryOkayama University Hospital
kn-affil=
en-keyword=Empathy
kn-keyword=Empathy
en-keyword= Hospital pharmacist
kn-keyword= Hospital pharmacist
en-keyword= Japan
kn-keyword= Japan
en-keyword= Pharmaceutical care 
kn-keyword= Pharmaceutical care 
END