The empathy during the training of the dentistry at the Universidad Autonóma de Sinaloa

Abstract

In this paper, the first part of the investigation of the level of empathy of dental students of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa by school grade and gender is presented, implementing the Workshops of Interpersonal Relationships and Self-Esteem (RI and A), with the support of Human Development and the Person-Centered Approach as an educational strategy to foster the development and strengthening of the level of empathy of dentists in training. This research was non-experimental, transectional, exploratory and descriptive with a mixed approach. The Jefferson Medical Empathy Scale in its Spanish version was applied in the first stage to 364 students and adapted to training dentists investigating their level of empathy. The results of this first stage of the first and third year female gender presented a higher score in level 2 of empathy. It is important that, in addition to recognizing the empathic level in the dentist-patient relationship, educational strategies and continuous training that foster their personal development, including a positive impact on the interpersonal relationships they establish with their patients, are included in the professional training of dentists.