摘要:Most studies show a decline in measured empathy across the clinical years of medical school as well as residency.1–3 Burnout is generally characterized by depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and loss of a sense of personal accomplishment, all leading to a rise in cynicism.4 The primary source of burnout in residency is seen as stemming from high job demands in the setting of low individual autonomy.5–7 The sequence of these changes is an unresolved issue. Some believe that physicians who connect too strongly with their patients might actually suffer worse burnout.4 The opposing view is that since empathy is viewed as protective against burnout, empathy must decrease before burnout increase.