Evaluation of Patient–Physician Orientation and Empathy Levels of Research Assistant Physicians Working in a University Hospital

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This study aimed to examine the orientations of physicians working as research assistants regarding the patient-physician relationship, to investigate some variables thought to be related, and to evaluate their empathy levels. Research assistant physicians working at Eskisehir Osmangazi University Health, Practice, and Research Hospital were included in the study. A questionnaire comprising the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), the Jefferson Empathy Scale (JES), and questions about sociodemographic characteristics was used. A total of 264 (73.3%) research assistants who agreed to complete the questionnaire participated in the study. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package program (version 31.0). The mean age of the study group was 30.2 ± 5.07 years. Among the participants, 145 (54.9%) were female, and 173 (65.5%) were working in the department of internal medical sciences. Additionally, 192 (72.7%) of the physicians reported not having participated in any activities related to patient-physician orientation. The median total score of the physicians on the PPOS was 50. Multivariate analysis revealed that physicians who were married, had fewer patients per day, and exhibited higher levels of empathy demonstrated a more patient-centered approach. This study reveals that research assistant physicians tend to adopt a patient-centered approach. This approach can be enhanced by reducing physicians' daily workload and increasing the time allocated to each patient. It is recommended to provide training for physicians on this topic.