level of medical empathy and associated factors in medical students

Abstract

Introduction: Medical empathy is a quality that allows the physician a better understandingof the patient. Empathic attitude primarily implicates the cognitive dimension and is acquiredin the medical training process.

Objective: To analyze the level of medical empathy and associated factors in medical students.Method: The Jefferson scale of physician empathy was applied to 180 medical students, whichresults yielding between 20 and 140 points. Based on this and using a standard deviation of 12.98, obtained from a pilot study, a weighted scale of medical empathy was created to establish thelevel of medical empathy. Dependent variables: The Jefferson scale of physician empathy score and level of medicalempathy; independent variables: scholar grade, age, sex, place of provenance, school of pro-venance, religion and specialty they pretend to study. Statistical test used: Kendall’s Tau-b,Spearman correlation, chi square, Mann Whitney U test, ANOVA and t student test.

Results: The score obtained was placed in 5 categories ranging from deficient to high. Theaverage score obtained was 113, equivalent to an outstanding level. Significant correlation wasobtained between age and level of empathy (p = .006, Rho index = 0.176) and scholar grade andlevel of empathy (p = .001, Tau-b index = −0,231). Women had greater empathy score (p = .017).

Conclusions: Students obtained an outstanding level of medical empathy. The lower level wasobtained in the highest scholar grade and age. Women are more empathetic than men. At higherscholar grade, less ability for perspective taking, compassionate care and ‘‘stand in the placeof another’’; at higher age, less ability to ‘‘stand in the place of another’’; women had greaterability for perspective taking and compassionate care.