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, Wen-Ko Chiou
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health April 12, 2021 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084033 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn eight-week loving-kindness meditation (LKM) training program improved empathy and communication skills among 106 doctors in a Chinese hospital, but did not significantly change their mindfulness levels. Doctors randomly assigned to LKM training showed greater gains in empathy and communication compared with a waiting-list control group. The findings suggest LKM may help enhance physician-patient interactions, though the reasons for the lack of effect on mindfulness require further study.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 106 |
| Population | Doctors from a hospital in China |
| Intervention | Loving-kindness meditation |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Citations | 55 |
| Key finding | Loving-kindness meditation training significantly improved doctors' empathy and communication skills but not their mindfulness. |
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.