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Jung MK, Yeo S, Lee WK. Correlation between medical student empathy and a Korean nationwide comprehensive clinical assessment score at a medical school in Korea. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e29497. [PMID: 35905250 PMCID: PMC9333465 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000029497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathy is the ability to understand and communicate a patient's situation, perspective, and feelings. When demonstrated by healthcare professionals, this can improve patient adherence, satisfaction, and treatment outcomes. Empathic students have stronger affective skills and can acquire, develop, reinforce, and display strong affective behaviors, abilities, and attitudes. We measured student empathy using the Student Version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE-S) and assessed 3-year sequential clinical comprehensive assessment scores conducted by the Korean Medical Education Assessment Corporation to determine the relationship between JSE-S and clinical comprehensive assessment scores. The study population comprised of 80 males (74%) and 28 females (26%), among which 38 (35%) and 62 (57%) students wanted to become private physicians and attending faculty, respectively. Regarding future majors, 58 students (54%) considered medical fields, whereas 40 students (37%) considered surgical fields. No significant differences in Korean JSE-S were observed according to medical student gender, career aspirations, or future major fields. The modified Korean version of the JSE-S has 18 items. Item-total score correlations and Cronbach α evaluated the internal consistency reliability of the scale. The reliability of the Korean JSE-S was 0.910 by Cronbach α coefficient. Female students had better scores than males. Students who wanted to be an attending faculty had better scores than others who wanted to be private physicians; however, these findings were not statistically significant. Significantly higher scores were seen among students aspired to work in the medical field (65.6 ± 8.8) versus in the surgical field (60.4 ± 8.2) in their 5th year (P < .01). We were unable to show the positive correlations between the empathy scale and comprehensive assessment results. Among female medical students, comprehensive assessment results were inversely correlated with empathy toward the patient, but this was not statistically significant. The modified Korean JSE-S has acceptable reliability. Every student had a better comprehensive assessment after studying the medical curriculum between the 4th and 6th years. The current nationwide assessment tool does not measure student empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyu Jung
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital
- *Correspondence: Min Kyu Jung, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, Republic of Korea 41944 (e-mail: )
| | - Sanghee Yeo
- Center for Medical Education, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Kee Lee
- Department of Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, KyungPook National University, Daegu
- Medical Research Collaboration Center in Kyungpook National University Hospital
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Yasien S, Almuzaini F. The relationship between empathy and personality traits in Saudi medical students. JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH PROMOTION 2022; 11:150. [PMID: 35847157 PMCID: PMC9277753 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_851_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Empathy is regarded as a fundamental personal attribute for in-training and in-practice doctors. Several factors may play a significant role to facilitate or prevent the ability of doctors' empathy toward their patients. The objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship of empathy with personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience) among undergraduate medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was based on a correlational, cross-sectional design and was conducted from January 2020 to April 2020. The sample consisted of 301 undergraduate medical students studying in different medical colleges situated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Personal information form, the big-five personality inventory, and the interpersonal reactivity index scales were administered. Obtained data were analyzed by applying several methods such as mean, standard deviation, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multivariable linear regression. RESULTS Regression analysis revealed that personality dimensions accounted for 10-19% of the variance in scores of empathy sub-dimensions of perspective-taking, empathetic concern, fantasy, and personal distress. Agreeableness was found to be associated with empathetic concern and perspective-taking. Openness to experience was found to be significantly related to perspective-taking and fantasy, whereas extraversion was negatively associated with perspective-taking. Neuroticism had an association with personal distress, empathetic concern, and fantasy. Additionally, no gender difference was observed and students with people-oriented specialty preferences showed significantly higher scores on empathy sub-domains than technology-oriented students. CONCLUSION This study confirmed that personality dimensions play a notable role to predict empathetic behaviors among Saudi undergraduate medical students. This study would help to design individualized strategies by incorporating personality dimensions in the training program to enhance empathetic behavior among medical students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saba Yasien
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Fadwa Almuzaini
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan
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Rafaqat W, Sami A, Ibrahim MT, Ibad H, Awais S, Memon A, Shahbaz FF, Ahmed D, Zindani S, Leghari AL, Saleem S. Impact of Perfectionism and Resilience on Empathy in Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Patient Exp 2022; 9:23743735221106603. [PMID: 35694014 PMCID: PMC9185014 DOI: 10.1177/23743735221106603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Empathy is a cognitive attribute that forms the cornerstone for good
doctor–patient encounters. The formative period for the development of empathy
toward patients begins with clinical encounters within medical school. An
individual medical student's empathy levels may in part be a product of their
resilience and perfectionist attitudes. A cross-sectional study with 320 medical
students across all years of study was conducted to determine the correlation of
perfectionism and resilience with clinical empathy in medical students. The
JSE-S, CD-RISC 10, and APS-R scales were used to assess levels of empathy,
resilience, and perfectionism, respectively. The study found that a positive
correlation exists between resilience (r = 0.174) and academic
year with empathy, and a negative correlation exists between maladaptive
perfectionism and empathy (r = −0.138). The resilience score
declined progressively as the year of study progressed with a statistically
significant. Mean empathy scores were lowest in fifth-year students
(96.8 ± 12.5) and highest in third-year students (107.8 ± 13.2). Further
longitudinal studies are necessary to better understand the impact of resilience
and perfectionism on empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sarah Saleem
- Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
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Praharaj SK, Salagre S, Sharma PSVN. Stigma, Empathy, and Attitude (SEA) educational module for medical students to improve the knowledge and attitude towards persons with mental illness. Asian J Psychiatr 2021; 65:102834. [PMID: 34508946 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective was to develop an educational module on stigma, empathy, and attitude towards mental illness and evaluate its effectiveness among undergraduate medical students. METHODS In phase I, the authors developed the Stigma, Empathy, and Attitude (SEA) module consisting of interactive teaching-learning components through an experts-based consensus (two rounds of Delphi). In phase II, the effectiveness of the module was evaluated. SEA module (one-hour interactive lecture and three hours' small group teaching) was delivered to the fifth-semester undergraduate medical students (N = 240) once during their psychiatry rotation. Students were assessed with the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MHKS), Mental Illness: Clinician's Attitudes (MICA) scale, Jefferson Scale for Empathy (JSE), and Social Distance scale (SDS), to measure mental health knowledge, attitude, empathy, and stigma, at baseline and after delivery of the module. Feedback on the module was obtained from the participating students and faculty. RESULTS Baseline data was obtained for 157 students, and post-intervention assessment was completed for 66 students. There was a significant increase in MHKS score (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.59) and a significant reduction in the MICA score (p = 0.016, Cohen's d = 0.31) after the intervention. However, there was no change in empathy and social distance, as measured by JSE (p = 0.23) and SDS (p = 0.31). A majority of the faculty and students were satisfied with the module and felt it should be part of the psychiatry curriculum. CONCLUSIONS The SEA module was found to improve medical students' knowledge and attitude towards mental illness and could be integrated as part of the psychiatry curriculum. However, it was ineffective in changing empathy and stigma in the students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Kumar Praharaj
- Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
| | - Santosh Salagre
- Department of Medicine, Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Podila S V N Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
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Nasiri M, Amini M, Mani A, Delavari S, Kiani M, Sagheb MM, Tabari P. Assessing empathy in final-year medical students using the Persian version of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy. JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH PROMOTION 2021; 10:310. [PMID: 34667810 PMCID: PMC8459864 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1539_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A doctor-patient relationship built on the concept of empathy is so essential to attain the best clinical outcomes in medicine. Since empathy has a positive role in interpersonal relationships and medical outcomes, its assessment is highly crucial. The aim of this study was to assess the empathy in last-year medical students using the Persian version of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) and correlate empathy scores with demographic features. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this cross-sectional study, last-year medical students at Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz, Iran, were recruited for this study. In this research, we used the Persian version of JSPE. The validity and reliability of the Persian version of this tool were confirmed in the previous research. For the analysis of data, we employed descriptive statistics and the independent sample t-test. RESULTS One hundred and eighty-five final-year medical students were included in this study. The maximum score of the questionnaire was 140, and the total mean score of empathy was 98.15 ± 13.29. The females' total mean score (102.05 ± 11.89) was higher than the males' score (93.57 ± 13.46). The difference between the mean score of gender and empathy was significant (P value <.001), but there was no significant difference between empathy and the two other demographic factors (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Although physicians would gain the essential characteristics of empathy during their career, attending professors and other responsible policymakers in medical education should focus more on the factors related to physicians' empathy to train better and more professional physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Nasiri
- Department of Psychiatry, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mitra Amini
- Clinical Education Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Arash Mani
- Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Somayeh Delavari
- Center for Educational Research in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Kiani
- Clinical Education Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mahdi Sagheb
- Clinical Education Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Parinaz Tabari
- Clinical Education Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Ruiz de Azua S, Ozamiz-Etxebarria N, Ortiz-Jauregui MA, Gonzalez-Pinto A. Communicative and Social Skills among Medical Students in Spain: A Descriptive Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17041408. [PMID: 32098223 PMCID: PMC7068376 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Effective risk communication in public health requires the development of social skills such as active listening and empathy. Communicative and social skills were evaluated in third-year medical students (n = 917) using the Active Listening Test and the Test of Cognitive and Affective Empathy. The results obtained revealed that our participants had equal or better-than-norm communication skills. Women scored higher in active listening whereas men scored higher on the General Empathy Scale. The students who preferred a clinical specialty obtained higher scores in active listening and empathetic abilities, as compared to students who chose a surgical specialty. In conclusion, the medical students who participated in the study exhibited good communicative and social skills. An association was observed between gender and specialty preference, and empathy and active listening skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Ruiz de Azua
- Department of Neuroscience, University of the Basque, Cibersam, 48940 Leioa, Spain;
| | - Naiara Ozamiz-Etxebarria
- Department of Neuroscience, University of the Basque Country, 48940 Leioa, Spain;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-946-01-4655
| | | | - Ana Gonzalez-Pinto
- Alava University Hospital, Cibersam, University of the Basque Country, 01004 Vitoria, Spain;
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