Changes in empathy among first year medical students before and after a medical humanities module

Abstract

Introduction : A medical humanities (MH) module is conducted for all first year students at at KIST Medical College, Lalitpur, Nepal. Objective : The present study was conducted to measure empathy among students before and after a Medical Humanities (MH) module using Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) a validated measure of empathy at KIST Medical College, Lalitpur, Nepal from February to May 2009. Method : IRI was administered to students before and on conclusion of the module. IRI measures four aspects of empathy: Perspective-taking (PT), Fantasy (FS), Empathic concern (EC) and Personal distress (PD). Students were invited to participate in the study. Demographic information (gender, method of financing of medical education, area of residence and occupations of parents) was collected. The pre-module and post-module scores were compared among different subgroups of respondents using appropriate non-parametric tests (p<0.05). Result : Sixty-four of the 75 students (85.3%) participated in the survey pre-module and 57 students (76%) post-module. Most were self-financing and from urban areas. Before the module the median (interquartile range) FS, PT, EC and PD scores were 20, 18 (15-20), 21 (18.25-24) and 15 (10-18) respectively (maximum score 28 for each subscale). The PD score was significantly higher among females (p<0.001) and students whose father was not a doctor (p=0.049). After the module the median (interquartile range) FS, PT, EC and PD scores were 20 (15-24), 20 (17.5-22), 21 (17.5-23) and 16 (13-19) respectively. The PT score was significantly higher after the module (p=0.023). Conclusion : The module increased PT scores (cognitive empathy) in first year students. Follow up studies and studies in larger populations are required.