ID | 55214 |
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Author |
Higuchi, Yuji
Department of NeuropsychiatryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Uchitomi, Yosuke
Innovation Center for Supportive, Palliative and Psychosocial CareNational Cancer Center
Fujimori, Maiko
Center for Suicide Prevention, National Institute of Mental HealthNational Center for Neurology and Psychiatry
Koyama, Toshihiro
Department of Clinical PharmacyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Kaken ID
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Kataoka, Hitomi
Department of Primary Care and Medical EducationOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Kitamura, Yoshihisa
Department of Clinical PharmacyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Sendo, Toshiaki
Department of Clinical PharmacyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Inagaki, Masatoshi
Department of NeuropsychiatryOkayama University Hospital
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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.
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Keywords | Empathy
Hospital pharmacist
Japan
Pharmaceutical care
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Note | The final publication is available at Springer
岡山大学審査学位副論文
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Published Date | 2015-12
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Publication Title |
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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Volume | volume37
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Issue | issue6
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Publisher | Springer
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Start Page | 1258
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End Page | 1266
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ISSN | 2210-7703
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NCID | AA12633112
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Content Type |
Journal Article
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language |
English
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OAI-PMH Set |
岡山大学
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Copyright Holders | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.ja
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File Version | author
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Related Url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-015-0204-2
http://ousar.lib.okayama-u.ac.jp/55016
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