Assessment of Empathy among Health Professional Students in a Government Medical College in South India

Abstract

Introduction: Doctor-patient relationship is highly influenced by empathy which is a vital quality among medical students. Objective: To assess the empathy level in the medical students and the socio demographic factors influencing it. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the undergraduates of a Government Medical College in Telangana during February 2024. Total of 309 students participated in the study. Data were collected with a semi structured questionnaire and the empathy was assessed with the help of Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Student Version. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic data and Student t test and One-way ANOVA were used for comparing semesters. Results: The mean empathy score in the current study was 100.20 ± 15.23. Final MBBS part I students were more empathic (103.27±13.04) compared to second phase students and interns. Female students and the students who made the independent decision to pursue MBBS had significantly higher empathy scores than the others. The empathy score was not significantly associated with the choice of speciality. Conclusion: The mean empathy score was 100.20 (maximum score – 140) among the medical students in South India. The age, gender and the phase of the students were significantly associated with empathy. There was no relation between the empathy scores and choice of speciality.

Keywords

• empathy
• jefferson scale
• medical students