Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Doctors’ Mindfulness, Empathy, and Communication Skills
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health April 12, 2021 Hao Chen, Chao Liu, Xinyi Cao et al. 55 citations
An eight-week loving-kindness meditation (LKM) training program improved empathy and communication skills among 106 doctors in a Chinese hospital, but did not significantly change their mindfulness levels. Doctors randomly assigned to LKM training showed greater gains in empathy and communication compared with a waiting-list control group. The findings suggest LKM may help enhance physician-patient interactions, though the reasons for the lack of effect on mindfulness require further study.