José Antonio Gutiérrez, honorary director of the Lilly Foundation (Chair of Medical Education) gave a lecture entitled ‘Training and emotional competence in medical education' for the round table ‘Emotional Conflicts in Health Care', organized by the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS ). Other participants were: Pilar León, professor of the Faculty of Medicine and collaborator of the Institute; Carmen Hijós, general secretary of the Association of Physicians of Navarre; and Maria Isabel Saracíbar, dean of the School of Nursing.

The activity was part of the I Meeting ‘Academy and Society'. This forum is open to all citizens, and was organized by the ICS Project ‘Emotional Culture and Identity', and sponsored by Seguros Zurich. The development of healthy emotional contexts in education, health care and business was analyzed during the event.

How important is the proper management of emotions in health, both in prevention and in patient care?

The Doctor-Patient relationship is the cornerstone of health care. It deals with the relationship between one person, the patient, who has a disease and therefore he is asking for help, and the other person, the physician, who possesses the knowledge to help. We should aspire to a reciprocal exchange of both, the patient's feelings that require attention as well as the feelings of intention, willingness and even interest in helping on the part of the professional. Without this kind of empathy, the relationship will not work. Thus, the right management of emotions and the awareness of their presence are essential in medical work.

 What emotional problems do physicians face?

Physicians must believe in what they do and must have a vocation to help others. That means to feel geared to help the person who suffers, who has a disease or needs help. If this feeling is missing, an emotional conflict will be created for the professional, because he would be doing something he really does not like, and it will also exist for the patient, because his demand for help would not be addressed.

How can the training of doctors be enhanced, so that they can learn how to better manage their own emotions and those that arise in the relationship with patients?

The existence of a previous vocational spirit is essential. It can be improved through the education and training of physicians, but especially through experience: the students should live their experiences at the hands of their teachers, and learn how to relate better and understand what is happening with the patients. The emotional state varies, depending on the circumstances, and this affects the practice of health care, just as in any other profession. The satisfaction that comes with, or should come with, giving good medical care, achieving a good relationship with patients, and with teaching others serves as motivation for a good doctor.