Paramedic empathy levels: results from seven Australian universities

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the extent of empathy in paramedic students across seven Australian universities.Design/methodology/approachA cross‐sectional study was carried out using a paper‐based questionnaire employing a convenience sample of first, second, and third year undergraduate paramedic students. Student empathy levels were measured using a standardised self‐reporting instrument: the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy‐Health Profession Students (JSPE‐HPS).FindingsA total of 783 students participated in the study, of which 57 per cent were females. The overall JSPE‐HPS mean score was 106.74 (SD=14.8). Females had greater mean empathy scores than males 108.69 v 103.58 (p=0.042). First year undergraduate paramedic mean empathy levels were the lowest, 106.29 (SD=15.40) with second year's the highest at 107.17 (SD=14.90).Originality/valueThe overall findings provide a framework for educators to begin constructing guidelines focusing on the need to incorporate, promote and instil empathy into paramedic students in order to better prepare them for future out‐of‐hospital healthcare practice.

Empathy levels among health professional students: a cross-sectional study at two universities in Australia

“…Other studies have also shown low empathy scores among paramedic students 36,37. As out-of-hospital emergency workers, paramedics are regularly exposed to pain and suffering in often-unpredictable situations and environments 9.…”

Systematic Review of the Personality Profile of Paramedics: Bringing Evidence into Emergency Medical Personnel Recruitment Policy

“…Both paramedics and paramedic students had significantly low scores for empathy (26). However, female paramedic students were identified as being more empathetic than their male counterparts (27)(28)(29). In general, empathy levels either declined (27) or improved (28,29,30) as students progressed through their coursework programs.…”

“…However, female paramedic students were identified as being more empathetic than their male counterparts (27)(28)(29). In general, empathy levels either declined (27) or improved (28,29,30) as students progressed through their coursework programs. Paramedic students (in response to empathy for medical conditions) scored the lowest for substance abuse and the highest for intellectual disability (27).…”

Virtual morality in the helping professions: Simulated action and resilience

“….serve as an adaptive function' providing resilience in emotionally aversive emergencies (Williams et al, 2012;p. .without becoming emotionally entangled' (Williams et al, 2012;p. In recent research, empathy, assessed using generalized and specialized measures (e.g., Bellini, Baime, & Shea, 2002;Bellini & Shea, 2005), was found to decline in medical students and residents (Hojat et al, 2004;Neumann et al, 2011).…”

“…Firstly, specialized training in medical and emergency services involves frequent and direct exposure to emotionally salient and aversive situations (Grinberg et al, 2016). For example, emergency service professionals have been found to have reduced aspects of empathy (e.g., Neumann et al, 2011;Williams et al, 2012) and downregulation of responses to the pain of others (Decety, Yang, & Cheng, 2010). For example, emergency service professionals have been found to have reduced aspects of empathy (e.g., Neumann et al, 2011;Williams et al, 2012) and downregulation of responses to the pain of others (Decety, Yang, & Cheng, 2010).…”