Does medical school affect students' empathy? A cross-sectional study measuring empathy levels among Saudi medical students

Abstract

Objectives: This research aimed to measure empathy levels among medical students of all academic years and assess whether empathy levels decrease, increase, or remain the same throughout medical school. Also, to measure the mean empathy score and correlated empathy scores to different socio-demographic, personal, and familial variables. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 400 medical students. The study was carried out from October 2020 to May 2021 using online-based surveys, which consisted of questions to collect socio-demographic data and the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire to measure empathy levels. Results: There was no significant change in empathy levels among medical students as they progressed through medical school. However, below-average empathy levels were reported among medical students. There was no significant association between gender or age and empathy levels. Nevertheless, students with a disabled family member had significantly higher empathy levels than others. Conclusion: Effective interventions and measures to enhance empathy and students' psychosocial development are needed to achieve better future clinical outcomes.