Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Doctors' Mindfulness, Empathy, and Communication Skills.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the effects of loving-kindness meditation (LKM) on doctors' mindfulness, empathy, and communication skills in the context of doctor-patient tensions in China.
Results Summary
The study found that LKM significantly improved doctors' empathy and communication skills but did not significantly change their mindfulness levels. The mechanisms underlying these effects require further investigation.
Population
106 doctors from a hospital in China.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (8 weeks of LKM training intervention).
Duration
8 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
loving-kindness meditation (LKM) training intervention | increase | empathy | doctors from a hospital in China | - | significantly improved | #1 |
loving-kindness meditation (LKM) training intervention | increase | communication skills | doctors from a hospital in China | - | significantly improved | #2 |
loving-kindness meditation (LKM) training intervention | no change | mindfulness | doctors from a hospital in China | - | did not significantly change | #3 |
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.