Purpose To test the hypothesis that physicians' empathy is associated with positive clinical outcomes for diabetic patients. Method A correlational study design was used in a university-affiliated outpatient setting. Participants were 891 diabetic patients, treated between July 2006 and June 2009, by 29 family physicians. Results of the most recent hemoglobin A1c and LDL-C tests were extracted from the patients' electronic records. The results of hemoglobin A1c tests were categorized into good

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... ontrol (Ͻ7.0%) and poor control (Ͼ9.0%). Similarly, the results of the LDL-C tests were grouped into good control (Ͻ100) and poor control (Ͼ130). The physicians, who completed the Jefferson Scale of Empathy in 2009, were grouped into high, moderate, and low empathy scorers. Associations between physicians' level of empathy scores and patient outcomes were examined.