Behind that white coat may beat a tender heart. A recent survey shows that physicians experience a wide range of emotions while treating patients. Gratitude, anxiety, happiness, sadness and anger top the list, according to a report in Academic Medicine.
For the study, ten medical trainees were observed and asked to document their emotions with a tape recorder. Researchers also interviewed the subjects periodically during the week they were under observation.
Not surprisingly, the doctors' moods were connected to their patients' well-being. Almost all physicians were happy when they connected with their patients and when their patients' health improved. Doctors also felt both compassion and sadness after a patient took a turn for the worse.
