The Emotional Anatomy of Diagnosis: A Medical Humanities Approach to Empathy in Pathology
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Pathology is often perceived as a technical medical specialty that lacks direct contact with the patient. However, oncological histopathological diagnosis requires a high degree of moral and emotional responsibility. The objective of this study was to invest...
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
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| author | Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz Raluca Niculescu Maria Cătălina Popelea Adrian-Horațiu Sabău Maria-Elena Cocuz Martin Manole Alexandru-Constantin Ioniță Giordano Altarozzi Maria Tătar-Dan Ovidiu Simion Cotoi Dorina Maria Pașca |
| author_facet | Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz Raluca Niculescu Maria Cătălina Popelea Adrian-Horațiu Sabău Maria-Elena Cocuz Martin Manole Alexandru-Constantin Ioniță Giordano Altarozzi Maria Tătar-Dan Ovidiu Simion Cotoi Dorina Maria Pașca |
| author_sort | Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Pathology is often perceived as a technical medical specialty that lacks direct contact with the patient. However, oncological histopathological diagnosis requires a high degree of moral and emotional responsibility. The objective of this study was to investigate how empathy is manifested toward the “invisible” patient, the emotional impact on pathology staff, and potential repercussions in their personal lives. <b>Method:</b> We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative component, using an anonymous 22-item questionnaire among Romanian pathologists and medical personnel working in pathology services. The questionnaire was focused on three research directions: professional empathy in the absence of direct patient contact, the emotional impact of oncologic diagnosis on medical personnel in pathology departments, and the carryover of emotions from professional to personal life. A total of 165 respondents were included in the study (physicians, technicians, registrars). <b>Results:</b> Most of the respondents consider that the absence of the patient’s direct contact does not cancel the empathy, this being felt in a cognitive and more natural way. Over 60% of the respondents see oncologic histopathological diagnosis as an emphatic medical act. Over 80% of the respondents experience a sense of emotional responsibility and 70% consider that professional training does not include adequate emotional support. There is a high interest in empathy and psychological support. The professional activity of a pathologist may influence sleep, dreams, and the perception on their own health status. Diagnosing pediatric or young patients is perceived as particularly emotionally challenging. Collegial support is moderate and discussion about professional stress is rare. <b>Conclusions:</b> Empathy is present and relevant in pathology, despite the absence of direct patient interaction. Oncological diagnostics has a significant emotional impact on pathology department personnel, with the need to acknowledge the emotional dimension of the profession and to integrate psychological support mechanisms into pathology practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f9a9806bd054e318f0024ce5df1bb70 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f9a9806bd054e318f0024ce5df1bb702025-08-20T03:35:58ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-07-011515184210.3390/diagnostics15151842The Emotional Anatomy of Diagnosis: A Medical Humanities Approach to Empathy in PathologyIuliu Gabriel Cocuz0Raluca Niculescu1Maria Cătălina Popelea2Adrian-Horațiu Sabău3Maria-Elena Cocuz4Martin Manole5Alexandru-Constantin Ioniță6Giordano Altarozzi7Maria Tătar-Dan8Ovidiu Simion Cotoi9Dorina Maria Pașca10Pathophysiology Department, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaPathophysiology Department, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaPathology Department, Mures Clinical County Hospital, 540011 Targu Mures, RomaniaPathophysiology Department, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaFundamental Prophylactic and Clinical Disciplines Department, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500003 Brașov, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaScience and Letters 1 Department, Petru Maior Faculty of Sciences and Letters, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaScience and Letters 1 Department, Petru Maior Faculty of Sciences and Letters, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaPathophysiology Department, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaEthics Department, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Pathology is often perceived as a technical medical specialty that lacks direct contact with the patient. However, oncological histopathological diagnosis requires a high degree of moral and emotional responsibility. The objective of this study was to investigate how empathy is manifested toward the “invisible” patient, the emotional impact on pathology staff, and potential repercussions in their personal lives. <b>Method:</b> We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative component, using an anonymous 22-item questionnaire among Romanian pathologists and medical personnel working in pathology services. The questionnaire was focused on three research directions: professional empathy in the absence of direct patient contact, the emotional impact of oncologic diagnosis on medical personnel in pathology departments, and the carryover of emotions from professional to personal life. A total of 165 respondents were included in the study (physicians, technicians, registrars). <b>Results:</b> Most of the respondents consider that the absence of the patient’s direct contact does not cancel the empathy, this being felt in a cognitive and more natural way. Over 60% of the respondents see oncologic histopathological diagnosis as an emphatic medical act. Over 80% of the respondents experience a sense of emotional responsibility and 70% consider that professional training does not include adequate emotional support. There is a high interest in empathy and psychological support. The professional activity of a pathologist may influence sleep, dreams, and the perception on their own health status. Diagnosing pediatric or young patients is perceived as particularly emotionally challenging. Collegial support is moderate and discussion about professional stress is rare. <b>Conclusions:</b> Empathy is present and relevant in pathology, despite the absence of direct patient interaction. Oncological diagnostics has a significant emotional impact on pathology department personnel, with the need to acknowledge the emotional dimension of the profession and to integrate psychological support mechanisms into pathology practice.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/15/1842pathologyempathymedical personnelemotional well-beingmedical humanities |
| spellingShingle | Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz Raluca Niculescu Maria Cătălina Popelea Adrian-Horațiu Sabău Maria-Elena Cocuz Martin Manole Alexandru-Constantin Ioniță Giordano Altarozzi Maria Tătar-Dan Ovidiu Simion Cotoi Dorina Maria Pașca The Emotional Anatomy of Diagnosis: A Medical Humanities Approach to Empathy in Pathology Diagnostics pathology empathy medical personnel emotional well-being medical humanities |
| title | The Emotional Anatomy of Diagnosis: A Medical Humanities Approach to Empathy in Pathology |
| title_full | The Emotional Anatomy of Diagnosis: A Medical Humanities Approach to Empathy in Pathology |
| title_fullStr | The Emotional Anatomy of Diagnosis: A Medical Humanities Approach to Empathy in Pathology |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Emotional Anatomy of Diagnosis: A Medical Humanities Approach to Empathy in Pathology |
| title_short | The Emotional Anatomy of Diagnosis: A Medical Humanities Approach to Empathy in Pathology |
| title_sort | emotional anatomy of diagnosis a medical humanities approach to empathy in pathology |
| topic | pathology empathy medical personnel emotional well-being medical humanities |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/15/1842 |
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