Emotion regulation may reduce inappropriate prescriptions, while empathy shows no significant correlation with prescription volume or quality¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r2–r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Physicians' ability to regulate negative emotions such as anxiety or irritation in response to patient demands may contribute to reducing inappropriate prescriptions including antibiotics, antidepressants, opioids and unnecessary diagnostic tests. → Joly Louise 2026 q2 i? No significant correlation was found between physician empathy and the volume or quality of prescriptions. → Joly Louise 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Joly Louise 2026¶

Joly Louise, Nunes de Sousa Alexandra, Bardiau Marjorie, Dory Valérie, Bayot Marie, Lenoir Anne-Laure. (2026). Impact of emotional competence on clinical reasoning: a scoping review. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-113483

q2 · i? · review · r3

Narrative synthesis of the review's prescription-related studies (8 of 98 articles); the review hedges the finding with may contribute and prints no effect size.

"Physicians’ ability to regulate negative emotions, such as anxiety or irritation in response to patient demands, may contribute to reducing inappropriate prescriptions including of antibiotics, antidepressants, opioids and unnecessary diagnostic tests."

Joly Louise 2026 (2)¶

Joly Louise, Nunes de Sousa Alexandra, Bardiau Marjorie, Dory Valérie, Bayot Marie, Lenoir Anne-Laure. (2026). Impact of emotional competence on clinical reasoning: a scoping review. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-113483

q2 · i? · review · r2

Narrative synthesis reporting the empathy–prescription null from the review's included studies; only significance is reported, no effect size, so equivalence was not tested.

"No significant correlation was found between physician empathy and the volume or quality of prescriptions."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Affect Regulation — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
• Emotional Intelligence — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Evidence that emotional competence improves patient outcomes is limited and mixed — related
• A practice brief reviewing self-regulation interventions reports substantial benefits of mindfulness programs for cognitive and emotional regulation, stress and mental health in adolescents and young adults — a broader claim this one bears on
• Studies of emotional training of aspiring and practicing teachers report positive outcomes for dealing with emotions and reducing stress and burnout — related
• Emotional regulation, especially tolerance of uncertainty, supports physicians' management of clinical uncertainty — related
• Clinicians' emotional responses to patients impacted patient engagement and diagnostic decisions, with negative emotions associated with poorer quality care and positive emotions with more comprehensive care — related
• Fear and clinical uncertainty were associated with more cautious clinical decisions, including more admissions, more diagnostic tests, and more antibiotic prescriptions — related