How physicians respond to negative emotions in high-risk preoperative conversations

Objective
To investigate physicians’ responses to negative emotions in high-risk preoperative conversations; and to explore the influencing factors of these responses.

Methods
One hundred and sixty-two audio recordings were coded using the Chinese Verona Coding Definition of Emotional Sequences (VR-CoDES). Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version and Emotional Intelligence Scale were administered to explore the influencing factors of physicians’ responses. SPSS 24.0 and R 3.6.3 LME4 Package were used for data analysis.

Results
Reduce Space (83%), referring to physicians’ responses reducing the opportunities of patients to disclose emotions, was physicians’ most frequent response to patients or families’ emotions. The main responses were Information-advice (ERIa) and Ignoring (NRIa). Younger age, female, Agreeableness and Openness were factors positively associated with Explicit Provide Space (EP); Neuroticism was negatively correlated with EP. Extroversion was negatively correlated with Explicit Reduce Space (ER); Conscientiousness was negatively correlated with both EP and ER responses. Emotional intelligence had no significant influence on physicians’ responses.

Conclusion
The majority of physicians were inclined to reduce space by providing information advice or ignoring. Physicians’ responses were correlated with their gender, age and personality traits. Practice Implications The trainees’ gender, age and personality should be considered when conducting doctor-patient communication skills training.