Patient-created visual metaphors in information materials about endometriosis increase state empathy

People affected by ‘invisible’ health conditions like endometriosis often report a lack of empathy from some health professionals, which compounds their suffering and may delay diagnosis. Two studies examined the value of including materials created with the DrawingOut method (Gameiro et al., 2018), consisting of visual metaphors drawn by people with endometriosis, to increase emotional, cognitive, and/or behavioural dimensions of state empathy in readers. Sixty-seven adults from the general population (study 1) and 103 healthcare students (study 2) were randomly exposed to written information, DrawingOut materials, or written information and DrawingOut materials about endometriosis, after which they self-reported on their state empathy towards people with endometriosis using the Comprehensive State Empathy Scale. Study 2 also included a measure of empathic behaviour. Results from both studies showed a significant and large main effect of Condition, whereby participants in the written information and DrawingOut materials condition reported higher state empathy than participants in the written information only condition. No difference in empathic behaviour was observed between participants allocated to the different conditions in Study 2. Results suggest patient-generated visual metaphors may provide a cost-effective way to raise awareness and promote empathy for people suffering from endometriosis and potentially also other ‘invisible’ diseases, although they do not necessarily promote empathic behaviour towards patients.