46 - Empathy Between Neonatal and Obstetric Team Members and Relationships with Culture and Staff-Reported Outcomes

Publication Number: 3043.46

Cecelia Corson, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Cardiff by the Sea, CA, United States; Ingrid Nembhard, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Joshua Radack, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Boston, MA, United States; Sara Handley, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Background: Empathy is understanding and sharing another person’s feelings. Studies typically approach empathy as unidirectional from healthcare staff towards patients, yet empathy between team members is associated with improved collaboration and communication. Considering bidirectional empathy between neonatal and obstetric teams who care for the maternal-infant dyad may highlight opportunities to improve performance across perinatal teams.

Objective: To examine empathy between neonatal and obstetric staff and assess relationships with dyad-centered care and staff-reported outcomes.

Design/Methods: We conducted a voluntary, cross-sectional survey of neonatal and obstetric staff who work in birth hospitals. The survey scales measure empathy, dyad-centered care, and 3 staff-reported outcomes, all assessed on a 7-point Likert scale, and respondent demographics. The empathy scale measured the extent to which staff extend and value empathy towards counterpart staff (e.g., neonatal towards obstetric staff). Higher scale scores indicate higher empathy, stronger dyad-centered care, and more favorable outcomes. We compared empathy scores between neonatal and obstetric staff and stratified by demographics. We used linear random effects models and mediation analysis to examine associations of empathy with outcomes (satisfaction, team effectiveness, and communication) and with dyad-centered care as a mediator.

Results: Of 141 hospitals, 57 (40%) participated with 1,882 responses (demographics in Table 1). Both groups reported extending empathy towards counterpart staff, though neonatal staff reported lower empathy scores towards the obstetric staff (than vice versa)(p < 0.001). Higher empathy scores were noted among obstetric respondents who identified as female, age < 25, 36-45, 46-55, nurses and those in other roles, and those in their current role for 1-5 and 16-20 years (Figure 1). Higher empathy scores were positively associated with all 3 outcomes (Table 2). Dyad-centered care mediated a significant though decreasing proportion of the relationship between empathy and satisfaction, team effectiveness, and communication, respectively (Table 2).

Conclusion(s): Neonatal staff reported lower empathy toward their obstetric colleagues, with differences among females and nurses, who comprise the perinatal workforce majority. Empathy is positively associated, both directly and indirectly via dyad-centered care, with staff outcomes. Attention to and facilitation of empathy between teams may be an opportunity to cultivate dyad-centered care and optimize multidisciplinary team performance to ultimately improve patient care.

Respondent characteristics stratified by neonatal and obstetric units.
Empathy PAS Abstract Table 1 10.29.25 2.pdfThere were a total of 21 respondents who identified as social workers/case managers. The number who identified as neonatal and obstetric staff are suppressed ( <10 in either group) to preserve respondent anonymity.
1There were a total of 21 respondents who identified as unit support. The number who identified as neonatal and obstetric staff are suppressed ( <10 in either group) to preserve respondent anonymity.


Differences in empathy scores between neonatal and obstetric staff, stratified by respondent gender (panel A), age (panel B), role (panel C), and time in current role (panel D).
Empathy PAS Abstract Table 2 10.29.25 .pdfPanel C includes roles with ≥10 respondents from both neonatal and obstetric units.

Associations/relationships between empathy score and staff-reported outcomes.
Empathy PAS Abstract Table 3 10.29.25.pdf