NCT05102656

Patient Perceptions of the Relational Empathy of Healthcare Practitioners From the Department of Emergency Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Patient Perceptions of the Relational Empathy of Healthcare Practitioners From the Department of Emergency Medicine During COVID-19: A Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing In-Person Interaction With Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Versus Video Interaction Without PPE

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 107 (actual)
• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study investigates patients' perceptions of their doctor's or nurse's empathy during an in-person interaction with the doctor or nurse wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) compared to during a video interaction with the doctor or nurse without PPE. The goal of this research study is to learn whether patients who visit the Acute Cancer Care Center at MD Anderson believe they get better (more empathetic) care from doctors who visit them in person wearing PPE or from doctors who visit them by video call and do not wear PPE.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To determine whether patients perceive their healthcare practitioner as more empathetic during an in-person interaction with the practitioner wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), or during a video interaction without the need for PPE. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To assess whether certain physicians perform better with video whereas others perform better in person. II. To characterize generational differences in patient perception of healthcare practitioner empathy during an in person interaction with the practitioner wearing PPE, or during a video interaction without the need for PPE. OUTLINE: After initial visit, patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups. GROUP A (NO PPE): Patients receive standard of care via video call with treating physician. GROUP B (WEARING PPE): Patients receive standard of care in-person physician visits.

Conditions

• COVID-19 Infection
• Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm
• Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Best Practice	Physician conversations occur in-person
PROCEDURE	Discussion	Physician conversations occur via video call
OTHER	Questionnaire Administration	Ancillary studies

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-06-02
• Primary completion: 2027-02-02
• Completion: 2027-02-02
• First posted: 2021-11-01
• Last updated: 2025-11-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States