A study of 1,470 adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) found that physician empathy was associated with better outcomes in pain, function, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over 12 months. Patients treated by physicians with high empathy (very empathic physicians, VEPs) reported significantly lower pain intensity, less back-related disability, and fewer HRQOL deficits compared to those treated by slightly empathic physicians (SEPs). These differences were clinically relevant, with Cohen d statistics ranging from 0.21 to 0.30. Physician empathy was more strongly associated with favorable outcomes than nonpharmacological treatments, opioid therapy, and lumbar spine surgery. The Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure was used to assess physician empathy, with scores indicating the level of empathy during medical encounters. VEPs had higher CARE scores (43.7 vs 20.6) and more stable scores over time. The study found that greater physician empathy was inversely associated with pain intensity, back-related disability, and HRQOL deficits. The results suggest that cultivating and improving physician empathy is important for better patient outcomes in chronic pain management. The study was conducted using a national registry and included longitudinal follow-up and multivariable analysis to adjust for potential confounders. The findings highlight the importance of empathy in the patient-physician relationship and its impact on clinical outcomes.A study of 1,470 adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) found that physician empathy was associated with better outcomes in pain, function, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over 12 months. Patients treated by physicians with high empathy (very empathic physicians, VEPs) reported significantly lower pain intensity, less back-related disability, and fewer HRQOL deficits compared to those treated by slightly empathic physicians (SEPs). These differences were clinically relevant, with Cohen d statistics ranging from 0.21 to 0.30. Physician empathy was more strongly associated with favorable outcomes than nonpharmacological treatments, opioid therapy, and lumbar spine surgery. The Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure was used to assess physician empathy, with scores indicating the level of empathy during medical encounters. VEPs had higher CARE scores (43.7 vs 20.6) and more stable scores over time. The study found that greater physician empathy was inversely associated with pain intensity, back-related disability, and HRQOL deficits. The results suggest that cultivating and improving physician empathy is important for better patient outcomes in chronic pain management. The study was conducted using a national registry and included longitudinal follow-up and multivariable analysis to adjust for potential confounders. The findings highlight the importance of empathy in the patient-physician relationship and its impact on clinical outcomes.