BATHE Technique: A Comprehensive Review of Evidence and Application in Healthcare

The Background–Affect–Trouble–Handling–Empathy (BATHE) technique is a structured, empathy-oriented consultation model increasingly applied in primary and inpatient healthcare settings. This study aimed to comprehensively review the evidence and application of BATHE technique in healthcare. This narrative review, through a targeted literature search strategy, synthesized evidence from 34 peer-reviewed studies. Of these, 17 studies explored the use of BATHE technology in patient-physician consultation cases and training methods, while the remaining 17 focused on its clinical application in improving patient satisfaction, empowerment, self-management, and reducing preoperative anxiety.  Randomized controlled trials from Nigeria, India, and South Korea showed that BATHE-based interventions improved patient satisfaction by 15–30% compared to standard care. A Turkish study in type 2 diabetes patients reported significantly higher Diabetes Empowerment Scale scores in the intervention group (Δ = 10.6 vs. 5.6, p < 0.001). UK-based qualitative studies highlighted enhanced patient self-management and awareness. Preoperative trials (n = 463) indicated reduced anxiety scores (STAI) by 3–4 points. However, fidelity studies revealed implementation inconsistencies, including step omissions and deviation from the BATHE sequence, with time constraints being a major barrier in clinical practice. BATHE demonstrates short-term efficacy in enhancing patient experience, empowerment, and emotional well‑being across cultures. However, its long-term impact on physiological and behavioral outcomes remains untested. Future research should include large-scale, longitudinal RCTs linking BATHE to hard clinical endpoints and explore how to incorporate BATHE technique into physicians' routine practice to further patient satisfaction and patient care quality.