Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Doctors’ Mindfulness, Empathy, and Communication Skills

Hao Chen, Chao Liu, Xinyi Cao, Bo Hong, Ding-Hau Huang, Chia-Yi Liu and Wen-Ko Chiou
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Hao Chen: Graduate Institute of Business and Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
Chao Liu: Graduate Institute of Business and Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
Xinyi Cao: Clinical Neurocognitive Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
Bo Hong: Department of Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
Ding-Hau Huang: Institute of Creative Design and Management, National Taipei University of Business, Taoyuan 22058, Taiwan
Chia-Yi Liu: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 10507, Taiwan
Wen-Ko Chiou: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 10507, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Background: In the context of increasing doctor–patient tensions in China, the objective of this study was to explore and examine the effects of loving-kindness meditation (LKM) on doctors’ mindfulness, empathy, and communication skills. Methods: A total of 106 doctors were recruited from a hospital in China, and randomly divided into an LKM training group (n = 53) and waiting control group (n = 53). The LKM training group received 8 weeks of LKM training intervention, whereas the control group received no intervention. Three major variables (mindfulness, empathy, and communication skills) were measured before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the LKM training intervention. Results: The empathy and communication skills of the LKM group were significantly improved compared with those of the control group, but the level of mindfulness did not significantly change. Conclusions: The results suggested that LKM may contribute to improving physicians’ empathy and communication skills. However, the mechanisms that underlie the effects of the LKM on mindfulness, empathy, and communication skills and other psychological constructs needs further elucidation.

Keywords: loving-kindness meditation; mindfulness; empathy; communication skills (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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