Clinical empathy among medical students at Al-Imam University, Saudi Arabia, by using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy

Abstract

Background and Aims: Clinical empathy is an integral part of medical education and an essential aspect of humanity. This study aimed to evaluate clinical empathy among medical students in a medical school in Saudi Arabia and point out the associated factors to empathy. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among medical students at Al-Imam University from February 2022 to March 2022. The questionnaire included information on the age and gender and questions regarding the participants’ GPA, year of study, and the specialty they aimed to pursue, in addition to Jefferson’s Scale of Empathy. The data was analyzed in SPSS 24, and descriptive statistics were presented with means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages. The student’s t-test was used for independent group analysis, and ANOVA was conducted for multiple group analysis. Results: Significant differences were found in terms of gender, where females scored higher on the empathy scale. Those with the highest and lowest GPA scored highest on the empathy scale. Medical students in their first and fourth years of education had the highest levels of empathy, and those who chose a non-family medical field showed higher scores on the empathy scale. Conclusions: Significant differences were found in gender, GPA, year of education, and specialty choice. Future studies should evaluate the socio-demographic background of the participants and their voluntary choice of medicine for a better understanding of the associated factors.