Empathy in technologically mediated patient-provider communication: a phenomenological and postphenomenological exploration.

IF 1.9 4区 哲学 Q2 ETHICS
Elisabeth Assing Hvidt, Finn Olesen
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: This theoretical paper aims to explore empathy in the context of technologically mediated patient-provider communication, specifically within the context of video- and telehealth consultations. Over the past few decades, empathy has been recognized as a vital component of high-quality patient care, often prioritizing the cognitive over the emotional dimensions of empathy. As healthcare increasingly embraces digital communication technologies, including video consultations, the dynamics of empathy in clinical encounters are altered. With this paper we explore the pertinent question: how do new digital communication modalities impact on empathy and its different dimensions?

Methods: To address the above question, we move beyond clinical and applied empathy frameworks instead integrating insights from two related philosophical traditions. First, the classical phenomenological understanding of empathy (represented primarily by Edith Stein) as embodied intuition. Second, the postphenomenological philosophy of technology, represented by Don Ihde and not least inspired by Maurice Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology of embodiment. We apply these theoretical frameworks to empirical analyses of video consultations in general practice and telemedical encounters between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and specialist telenurses.

Results: Our analysis demonstrates that even though video consultations do not allow for the same level of "fine-tuned" body-mediated sensory input, a whole-body empathetic experience can nevertheless be established through (1) the audio-visual sensory impressions that are being mediated by the technology, (2) our whole-body interpretations of this information and (3) our shared experiences of a lifeworld that we actively orient ourselves towards. These experiences may lead to empathetic communication and helping actions that draw on both emotional, intuitive and cognitive dimensions in a holistic manner.

Conclusion: Combining theoretical insights from phenomenology and postphenomenology with empirical telehealth analyses, we demonstrate how empathy is both reconfigured through technological mediation and sustained as an embodied, intersubjective practice. We thus conclude that empathetic care practices can be established in technologically mediated encounters through bodily intentionality where our bodies and minds are unified in understanding and connecting with other persons, even though we are not in the same physical space. We propose a theoretical bridge, connecting classical phenomenology and postphenomenology in the context of empathy in technologically mediated patient-provider communication. This bridge is grounded in Merleau-Ponty's conception of whole-body perception and the lifeworld whether through physical proximity or digital interaction.

同理心在技术介导的医患沟通:现象学和后现象学的探索。
背景:本理论论文旨在探讨移情在技术介导的患者-提供者沟通的背景下,特别是在视频和远程医疗咨询的背景下。在过去的几十年里,共情被认为是高质量患者护理的重要组成部分,通常优先考虑共情的认知维度而不是情感维度。随着医疗保健越来越多地采用数字通信技术,包括视频咨询,临床遭遇中的移情动态发生了变化。在本文中,我们探讨了相关问题:新的数字通信模式如何影响移情及其不同维度?方法:为了解决上述问题,我们超越临床和应用共情框架,而是整合两种相关哲学传统的见解。首先,经典现象学对共情(主要以伊迪丝·斯坦为代表)的理解是具身直觉。第二,后现象学的技术哲学,以唐·伊德为代表,并受到莫里斯·梅洛-庞蒂体现现象学的启发。我们将这些理论框架应用于一般实践中的视频咨询和慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者与专科远程护士之间的远程医疗遭遇的实证分析。结果:我们的分析表明,尽管视频咨询不允许同样水平的“微调”身体介导的感官输入,但通过(1)由技术介导的视听感官印象,(2)我们对该信息的全身解释,(3)我们积极定位自己的生活世界的共享体验,仍然可以建立一个全身的移情体验。这些经历可能会导致移情沟通和帮助行动,以一种整体的方式利用情感、直觉和认知维度。结论:将现象学和后现象学的理论见解与远程医疗的实证分析相结合,我们展示了共情如何通过技术调解重新配置,并作为一种具体化的、主体间的实践持续存在。因此,我们得出结论,移情护理实践可以通过身体意向性在技术介导的接触中建立起来,在这种接触中,我们的身体和思想在理解和与他人联系方面是统一的,即使我们不在同一个物理空间中。我们提出了一个理论桥梁,连接古典现象学和后现象学在共情的背景下,在技术介导的病人-提供者沟通。这座桥是基于梅洛-庞蒂的全身感知和生活世界的概念,无论是通过物理接近还是数字互动。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Philosophy Ethics and Humanities in Medicine
Philosophy Ethics and Humanities in Medicine Arts and Humanities-History and Philosophy of Science
CiteScore
2.70
自引率
0.00%
发文量
13
审稿时长
24 weeks
期刊介绍: Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine considers articles on the philosophy of medicine and biology, and on ethical aspects of clinical practice and research. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal that encompasses all aspects of the philosophy of medicine and biology, and the ethical aspects of clinical practice and research. It also considers papers at the intersection of medicine and humanities, including the history of medicine, that are relevant to contemporary philosophy of medicine and bioethics. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine is the official publication of the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University Medical Center.
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