An issue in addressing racial healthcare disparities is the need to reduce, often unconscious, provider bias. Provider empathy can overcome such bias. Patient perceptions of provider empathy were explored to identify which provider behaviors patients perceived as conveying empathy and how perceived provider empathy influenced patient-provider interactions. In this qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews and medical records, interviewers conducted in-depth interviews with 23 patients from three clinics. Patients reported that the following influenced perceptions of provider empathy: Taking time, patient engagement, valuing the patient, clear communication, and the healthcare system. Subtle racial differences existed. This information contributes to research on empathy and patient-provider interaction and provides preliminary evidence for racial differences.
Keywords: disparities; empathy; in-depth interviews; qualitative research.