Abstract
Patients with gestational diabetes benefit from empathic counseling, but practitioners may not be given adequate training in their undergraduate curricula with respect to empathic methods. This study investigated methods for increasing empathy, knowledge, and skills by using immersion, standard didactic techniques and skill-building exercises. Students (n = 93) assumed the role of "patient with gestational diabetes," and postimmersion analyses showed statistically significant improvements in empathy, knowledge, and skills as measured by scores on the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, practicum results, and standardized testing. Patient outcomes improve with practitioner empathy and empathy increases when practitioners have personal experiences with the recommendations they make through immersion.