Empathy Quotient and Self-esteem among Medical/Nursing Students and Health-care Staff Working in the Labor Room of a Teaching Hospital in India

Abstract

Abstract Context: Empathy and self-esteem are essential in delivering quality health care, particularly for women in labor and giving birth. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the empathy quotient and self-esteem of the second-year and final-year medical and nursing students and labor room staff. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a teaching hospital in southern India between September and December 2021. Materials and Methods: The inclusion criteria for the study were (i) nursing or medical students currently in their second or final year and (ii) obstetrician or nursing officer or intern currently posted in the labor room. Empathy quotient and self-esteem were measured using the Cambridge Behavioral Scale and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, respectively. Statistical Analysis Used: The scale scores were summarized as mean (standard deviation), percentages, and 95% confidence intervals. The association between empathy quotient, self-esteem, age, gender, designation, and experience duration was analyzed. We performed multivariable analysis using binary logistic regression. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 400 participants included in the study, 36.8% (42.7% – medical, 26.2% – nursing personnel) had lower than average empathy quotient scores, and 13.3% (18.4% – medical, 4.1% – nursing personnel) had low self-esteem. Self-esteem had a statistically significant, independent effect on empathy quotient, as noted in the multivariable analysis among medical and nursing personnel. There was a significant difference between empathy quotient and self-esteem scores in medical and nursing personnel across various designations (P < 0.05). Conclusion: A third of the participants had empathy quotient ratings that were below average, and one-eighth of participants had low self-esteem. Self-esteem and empathy quotient are interdependent; hence has to addressed together. The empathy quotient and self-esteem vary across different designations emphasising the need to take measures to nurture it.