Training clinicians to accurately perceive their patients: current state and future directions.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on training clinicians' person perception accuracy, or the ability to correctly judge patients' states and traits. To present the importance of training this skill, share evidence it is a trainable skill, and suggest evidence-based recommendations for implementing training. METHODS: We conducted a literature review on person perception training studies developed for or implemented with clinicians. We also summarized measures to evaluate training efficacy, barriers to implementation, and future research directions. RESULTS: Training studies exist to improve clinicians' ability to perceive patients' emotions, pain, distress, and depression. These varied in training approach, length of training, and study design. Ten of 13 studies showed training benefited person perception accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: The medical literature and previous meta-analysis on person perception training across contexts demonstrate that training person perception accuracy can be effective. Examples of effective trainings provide suggestions of best-practices for future efforts in this area. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: More evidence is needed to create and implement trainings which produce not only differences in accuracy but also in patient care and outcomes. Medical curriculum developers and researchers should collaborate to create effective person perception trainings for clinicians.