TY - JOUR T1 - Clinician views on optimism and empathy in primary care consultations: a qualitative interview study JF - BJGP Open JO - BJGP Open DO - 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0221 VL - 6 IS - 3 SP - BJGPO.2021.0221 AU - Stephanie Hughes AU - Jane Louise Vennik AU - Kirsten A Smith AU - Jennifer Bostock AU - Jeremy Howick AU - Christian Mallen AU - Paul Little AU - Mohana Ratnapalan AU - Emily Lyness AU - Geraldine M Leydon AU - Hajira Dambha-Miller AU - Leanne Morrison AU - Hazel A Everitt AU - Felicity L Bishop Y1 - 2022/09/01 UR - http://bjgpopen.org/content/6/3/BJGPO.2021.0221.abstract N2 - Background Practitioner expressions of optimism and empathy may improve treatment engagement, adherence, and patient satisfaction but are not delivered consistently amid the challenges of everyday clinical practice.Aim To explore primary care practitioner (PCP) views about optimistic and empathic communication in consultations; and to identify behavioural, attitudinal, and/or contextual issues likely to encourage or deter PCPs from practising such communication.Design & setting Qualitative interview study with 20 PCPs (GPs, practice nurses, and primary care physiotherapists).Method Semi-structured telephone interviews with 20 PCPs. Data were analysed thematically.Results A conceptual mismatch between optimism and patient expectations became apparent; when asked how PCPs communicate about the likely effects of a treatment, answers were focussed around managing patient expectations. When prompted, it became clear PCPs were open to communicating optimistically with patients, but emphasised the need for realism. Concerns arose that patients may not be receptive to optimistic messages, especially when holding negative expectations. PCPs felt that expressing empathy is fundamental to all clinical consultations, noting that it can be challenging. Some PCPs worried that increasing expressions of empathy might increase their risk of clinician burnout and felt guilty about (appropriately) communicating empathy while maintaining some emotional distance.Conclusion PCPs agreed expressing realistic optimism during consultations could aid communication and would constitute a novel change to practice. PCPs strive for clinical empathy but can struggle to manage emotional self-protection. Specific training to help PCPs express realistic optimism and empathy, and better utilise efficient non-verbal skills could help these issues. ER -