RADIOGRAPHERS AND EMPATHY - A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to introduce the
concept of empathy in the radiographer profession. We
explored why empathy is an important component of the
radiographer, the positive impact of empathy on patients
and radiographers, the negative impact of empathy on
radiographers, how to introduce empathy into the workplace,
and what infl uence the expression or non-expression of
empathy has on radiographers.
Materials and methods: We searched for the following
keywords: empathy, emotional labour, radiological engineer,
empathy, radiographer, radiologic technologist, burnout in
radiography. Articles published from 1991 onwards were
considered and only articles in Slovene and English with full
text availability were included.
Results: 13 articles were included in the analysis, which are
summarised in a table. Empathy is a fundamental tool for
building a therapeutic relationship between radiographers
and patients and contributes to a better diagnostic quality
of the examination. Empathy has a positive infl uence on
therapeutic outcomes and on radiographers, as it can help to
reduce stress and burnout in the workplace and improve the
quality of life of professionals. However, constant exposure
to stressful and emotionally diffi cult situations can have
emotional and motivational consequences, such as empathic
anxiety and personal distress. Understanding patients'
emotions, opinions and experiences, helps radiographers to
assess their needs and act accordingly.
Conclusion: Empathy plays an important role in the work of
radiographers as it contributes to a better relationship with the
patient and helps to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic
quality of the examination.
Keywords: empathic care, burnout, empathic training,
radiographers