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What About Empathy? A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of a Podcast as an Asynchronous Empathy Teaching Tool

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Abstract

Purpose

Though medical education podcasts are fast gaining popularity, they are overwhelmingly focused on teaching the medical expert role of physicians. We explored how medical learners and educators engaged with and learned from an empathy and communication-focused podcast and sought their recommendations for integrating the podcast into medical curricula.

Methods

Six virtual, semi-structured focus groups were conducted with educators and learners within a large urban hospital and university setting. Participants were asked to listen to pre-selected episodes of the About Empathy podcast in advance. Thematic analysis was used to explore experiences and perceptions of empathy teaching and learning.

Results

There were 24 participants. We identified six themes related to the podcast and empathy learning: (1) forging connection through stories, (2) creating space to reflect on empathy, (3) shifting perspectives and biases, (4) feeling validated and enabling self-compassion, (5) gaining knowledge and building skills through empathetic communication, and (6) translating new knowledge and skills into practice. Participants highlighted that the podcast’s portability and asynchronous nature allowed them to be more fully present, reflective, and intentional in their learning.

Discussion

The About Empathy podcast was experienced as a flexible, just-in-time tool that promoted self-agency over one’s learning, reflective practice, and knowledge and skill acquisition, particularly with respect to empathic communication. Benefits of asynchronous e-learning tools such as podcasts support a shift to a blended learning model. Challenges finding a curricular home for this empathy-focused podcast require further consideration.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (IY) upon request.

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Acknowledgements

With thanks to Jackie Skinner and Laura Takahashi, producers of the About Empathy Podcast. With thanks to those groups that funded the original development of the About Empathy podcast including the Sunnybrook Education Advisory Council; the Medical Humanities Grant via matching funding from the Postgraduate Medical Education at the University of Toronto and the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; and funding via the Sunnybrook Foundation through donations to the Palliative Care team.

Funding

This research was funded by the Education Research and Scholarship Grant from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada, and the Faculty Development Program Fund from the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family & Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Irene Ying, Rebecca Stepita, Dori Seccareccia & Giovanna Sirianni

  2. Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Irene Ying

  3. Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Barrie, ON, Canada

    Rebecca Stepita

  4. Department of Family & Community Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Sarah Whyte & Giovanna Sirianni

  5. Reserca Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada

    Laura Beaune & Allia Karim

Authors
  1. Irene Ying
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  7. Giovanna Sirianni
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Contributions

Study conception and design were performed by GS and IY with input from all authors. Data collection was performed by RS with assistance from SW. Data analysis and theme generation/refinement were performed by all authors. The first draft of the manuscript was written by LB with subsequent major revisions by IY. All authors contributed to each version of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irene Ying.

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Ethics Approval

Research ethics approval was obtained from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (REB file number 1954) and the University of Toronto (Protocol number 00040267).

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ying, I., Stepita, R., Whyte, S. et al. What About Empathy? A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of a Podcast as an Asynchronous Empathy Teaching Tool. Med.Sci.Educ. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-024-02020-0

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