Narrowing the empathy gap between doctors and patients using emotion forecasting

• Guoying Qian

  Capital Normal University

• Wen Zheng

  Tsinghua University

• Shuchang Liu

  Wenzhou Medical University

• Suo Jiang

  Wenzhou Medical University

• Yuan Du

  Capital Normal University

• Sijie Yang

  Capital Normal University

We investigated the differences between medical students’ affective forecasting for self and their forecasting of patients’ affective responses. To do this, we developed an affective forecasting situation questionnaire and tested its validity with a sample of 272 Chinese medical students and 66 patients. Results showed that there was a significant correlation between medical students’ affective forecasting for self and their forecasting of patients’ emotions. Medical students who were calmer (vs. less calm) during affective forecasting for themselves were more accurate in forecasting the patient’s emotions. We suggest that emotional intelligence training should be highlighted in Chinese medical education to improve students’ ability to forecast their own and others’ emotions.

1. Guoying Qian, Capital Normal University
   College of Preschool Education
2. Wen Zheng, Tsinghua University
   Department of Psychology
3. Shuchang Liu, Wenzhou Medical University
   Department of Applied Psychology, College of Psychiatry
4. Suo Jiang, Wenzhou Medical University
   Department of Applied Psychology, College of Psychiatry
5. Yuan Du, Capital Normal University
   College of Preschool Education
6. Sijie Yang, Capital Normal University
   College of Preschool Education

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