Empathy Levels among Undergraduate Medical Students in Pakistan, a Cross-Sectional Study Using Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy

Shaheen, Aneela; Mahmood, Muhammad Arshad; Zia-Ul-Miraj, M; Ahmad, Madeha

doi:10.5455/jpma.301593

Cited by 15 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Considering the background of low empathy scores amongst Nepali and South Asian medical students (10)(11)(12)(13), these ndings are encouraging. However, it remains to be seen whether, and how long this change persists, against the trend of declining empathy as training progresses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…There are few Nepal-based studies of student empathy, however, one study found lower empathy scores among Nepali nal year medical students than those in developed countries (10). From elsewhere in South Asia: India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, in recent years, there have been several reports on the assessment of empathy in medical students (11)(12)(13). These studies point out low levels of empathy and also stress the need to inculcate empathy by means of a formal curriculum.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Quantitative Evaluation of Empathy Using JSE-S Tool, Before and After a Medical Humanities Module, Amongst First-year Medical Students in Nepal

Krishna

Arjyal

Douglas

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background Doctors’ empathy: the understanding of patients’ experiences, concerns and perspectives, is highly valued by patients yet often lacking in patient care. Medical humanities has been introduced within undergraduate curriculum to address this lack in empathy. There is a paucity of research on the impact of a course on medical humanities on the empathy of medical students, particularly in South Asia. Here we report on the impact of such an intervention in first-year medical students and aim to help outcome-based medical education and the evaluation and promotion of humanities within medical courses. Methods This study is a quantitative evaluation of student empathy before and after a Medical Humanities course. The study employs the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Student version (JSE-S). Participants were first-year medical students at Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal. All cohort students were invited to participate and written consent was obtained. Data were collected both prior-to and on-completion-of, a six-week Medical Humanities module. Pre- and post-module data were analyzed and the resulting empathy scores compared using the paired t-test or Wilcoxon Sign Rank test. Subgroup analysis was undertaken to determine the association of the score with gender and preferred future speciality. Results Sixty-two student responses were analyzed, 32 (52%) male. In the Pre-module scores females had a slightly higher mean score than males:108 and 103 respectively. Participants who preferred people-oriented specialities also scored higher than those preferring procedure and technology-oriented specialities: 107 and 103. There was a significant increase in mean score for the entire class from Pre-module to Post-module: 105 to 116, p-value of < 0.001. Mean scores rose from 103 to 116 in males, and from 108 to 116 in females. Participants preferring Procedure and Technology-Oriented specialities showed a significant increase in meanscores:103 to 117, and participants preferring People-Oriented specialities demonstrated a smaller increase:107 to 111. Conclusion This study provides evidence of the impact of a Medical Humanities course for increasing medical student empathy scores at an institution in Nepal. Teaching of Medical Humanities is an important contributor to the development of empathy in medical students and its widespread expansion in the whole of South Asia should be considered.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Quantitative Evaluation of Empathy Using JSE-S Tool, Before and After a Medical Humanities Module, Amongst First-year Medical Students in Nepal

Krishna

Arjyal

Douglas

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…34,35 Moreover, the impact of social influences, such as the typical expectations for a specific gender regarding interpersonal conduct cannot be overlooked. 10,36 The current study has its limitations, some of which are methodological, while others which are directly related to the scope of the study. One limitation is that a relatively low response rate was attained, which was most likely because participation was voluntary and there was also an element of selection bias.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…7 Despite these efforts, it is not known whether the students are able to translate empathy into their clinical practice, as recent studies report mixed and inconsistent findings concerning empathy levels among medical students. [8][9][10][11][12] For instance, some studies have reported a gradual decline in empathy levels among the students as their studies progress. 10,13,14 Nevertheless, concrete evidence confirming a decline in empathy among students over time is lacking.…”

Section: P R O V I S I O N a L L Y A C C E P T E D F O R P U B L I C A T I O Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[8][9][10][11][12] For instance, some studies have reported a gradual decline in empathy levels among the students as their studies progress. 10,13,14 Nevertheless, concrete evidence confirming a decline in empathy among students over time is lacking. 12 Similarly, there is insufficient evidence to determine an association between empathy level and academic achievement among medical students.…”

Section: P R O V I S I O N a L L Y A C C E P T E D F O R P U B L I C A T I O Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measuring empathy in medical students: A cross-sectional study

et al. 2022

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Objective: To measure the empathy levels of undergraduate medical students, and to explore whether the empathy level has any significant association with gender, academic year and academic achievement. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, from January to March 2020, and comprised medical students. Data was collected using the pre-validated student version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. Results: Of the 391 students, 251(64.19%) were females, and 140(35.8%) were males. The overall mean empathy score was 105.18+/-12.51. Second year medical students showed the highest empathy score 108.59+/-13.33. There was minor but significant decline in empathy as the students progressed through their academic studies (p<0.05). Empathy scores were significantly higher in female students (p<0.05), and students with higher grade point average scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: The gradual reduction in empathy is alarming and demands due attention.

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Measurement invariance analysis of two empathy scales in a sample of French first year students registered in health formation

Guihard

2021

Curr Psychol

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Empathy Levels among Undergraduate Medical Students in Pakistan, a Cross-Sectional Study Using Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

A Quantitative Evaluation of Empathy Using JSE-S Tool, Before and After a Medical Humanities Module, Amongst First-year Medical Students in Nepal

A Quantitative Evaluation of Empathy Using JSE-S Tool, Before and After a Medical Humanities Module, Amongst First-year Medical Students in Nepal

Measuring empathy in medical students: A cross-sectional study

Measurement invariance analysis of two empathy scales in a sample of French first year students registered in health formation

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