Servant Leadership Characteristics and Empathic Care: Developing a Culture of Empathy in the Healthcare Setting

Anthony Martin, Mark (2019) Servant Leadership Characteristics and Empathic Care: Developing a Culture of Empathy in the Healthcare Setting. Post-Doctoral thesis, Antioch University.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the degree to which servant leadership characteristics are exhibited in medical group practices, and the degree to which servant leadership characteristics correlated with measures of empathic care. This study featured an explanatory mixed methods research design embedded in appreciative inquiry. A total of 189 mid-level practitioners consisting of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and practice mangers responded to a 32- item scale survey that featured a six-point Likert scale to measure servant leadership items and a 10-point continuous scale to assess measures of empathic care. The servant leadership items were based on the seven pillars of servant leadership. Data analyses included assessing means, standard deviations, and percentage distributions for servant leadership statements and empathic care statements. Additionally, bivariate correlation analysis and standard multiple regression analysis were conducted to assess the degree of influence of servant leadership characteristics on measures of empathic care. Findings from this study identified Pillar 1 (Persons of Character) as the servant leadership pillar most strongly exhibited in the medical group practices. Furthermore, Pillar 5 (Has Foresight) was the strongest correlate of reported empathic care within medical group practices as well as team members’ proclivity to practice servant leadership behaviors with patients more than with each other. The study also found that clinicians and non-clinicians significantly differed in their endorsement of all of the servant leadership pillars except Pillar 1 (Persons of Character). The findings of this dissertation point to strategies for promoting an environment of empathic care, and team building and organizational development and training in the medical group practices.

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