Empathy in nutrition and dietetics: a scoping review.

Background Empathy is fundamental to the provision of efficacious patient-centered healthcare. Currently, there is no comprehensive synthesis of peer-reviewed empirical research related to empathy in the nutrition and dietetics profession. Understanding empathy in the context of dietetic care may lead to improved teaching practices that support nutrition and dietetic students and professionals to provide high-quality, empathic, patient-centered care. Objective This scoping review aimed to understand the approaches through which empathy is conceptualized, measured, and taught in the nutrition and dietetics profession. Methods Using the PRISMA ScR-Scoping Reviews Statement and Checklist a scoping review process was undertaken. Five databases were searched in February 2023: CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, and Scopus, with no date limits. Eligible studies were English language-based, peer-reviewed, empirical research exploring or measuring empathy as an outcome in primary data stratified to nutrition and dietetics. Extracted qualitative data were synthesized and analysed thematically with an inductive, interpretivist approach applied to conceptualize the interrelationship between empathy and dietetic practice. Quantitative data were extracted and summarized in a table. Results Twenty-six studies were included in the scoping review. Analysis identified two overarching themes underpinning the current literature on empathy in nutrition and dietetics, that described (i) empathy as a key skill in the application of patient-centered care, which was supported by (ii) approaches to lifelong cultivation of empathy in the nutrition and dietetics profession. A range of tools have measured empathy in nutrition and dietetic students and practitioners with no clear consensus in findings across studies. Conclusions This review identified the extent and nature of empathy within nutrition and dietetics, from both professional and patient perspectives, and the vast array of approaches used to teach and quantify empathy in students and professionals. Insights from this review inform the need for future studies. The results of this review suggest that future research include i) exploring implications of empathic dietetic care on patient outcomes and ii) identification of best practice, evidence-based curricula and strategies to support sustainable cultivation and maintenance of empathic care across the career span of nutrition and dietetic professionals.