SynthesisBMC medical education2024
The effectiveness of Balint groups at improving empathy in medical and nursing education: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in BMC medical education, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed.
- Increasing motivation and well-being among medical students using curricular self-experience group sessions-a randomized controlled trial.Medical education online · 2025Trial
- A scoping review on the use of virtual patients for enhancing empathy in medical students.Medical education online · 2026Article
- Teaching empathy in Balint groups.The Libyan journal of medicine · 2026Article
- Educational and Professional Development Interventions to Strengthen Empathy, Compassion, and Relational Care Among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2026Review
- Challenges to Compassion for Patients Considered 'Difficult' to Care for: A Qualitative Content Analysis.Journal of advanced nursing · 2026Article
- Effectiveness of Balint group interventions for physician burnout: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Article
- Effects of Balint group combined with mindfulness-based stress reduction on humanistic care ability and psychological resilience among obstetric nurses.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Mental Health and Resilience in Nursing Students: A Longitudinal Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Rethinking empathy development in childhood and adolescence: a call for global, culturally adaptive strategies.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Correlation between ethical sensitivity and humanistic care ability among undergraduate nursing students: a cross-sectional study.BMC nursing · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveEmpathy is crucial for patient health. The Balint group is a commonly used method for empathy training. However, the impact of Balint groups on empathy remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aims to assess the impact of Balint groups on empathy training among medical and nursing students, as well as doctors and nurses.
methodsThis review involved searching multiple databases for relevant articles. Rigorous eligibility criteria were applied during the screening of titles and abstracts, and during the selection of records. Following a full-text eligibility evaluation, two reviewers independently extracted data from the final selection of studies, and a meta-analysis was conducted. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated to assess the systematic outcomes.
resultsA total of 11 studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Participants in Balint groups demonstrated a significant increase in empathy than those in the control group (SMD = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86-2.06; p < 0.001). Studies conducted in China (SMD = 2.13, 95% CI 1.27-2.99; p < 0.001) revealed a greater impact of Balint groups on empathy than those conducted in France (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI 0.12-0.37; p < 0.001). The impact of Balint groups was significantly greater among physicians (SMD = 2.50, 95% CI 1.79-3.21; p < 0.001) and nurses (SMD = 2.88, 95% CI 1.34-4.43; p < 0.001) compared to medical students (SMD = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.35-1.06; p < 0.001). Participants who attended ten or more sessions (SMD = 2.37, 95% CI 1.35-3.39; p < 0.001) demonstrated better outcomes compared to those who attended fewer than ten sessions (SMD = 0.79, 95% CI 0.30-1.29; p < 0.01).
conclusionBalint groups are effective for empathy training among doctors, nurses, and medical students. Future research should incorporate patient-led measurements to evaluate empathy and ascertain the long-term impact of Balint groups on empathy training.
trial registrationPROSPERO registration number CRD42023488247.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.