Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to ascertain the relationships between perspective-taking, empathic concern, and self-rating of empathy as a physician among medical students.MethodsThis study analyzed the questionnaire responses of 152 medical students enrolled in Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea, in 2018. As measurement instruments, the authors applied the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Korean Student Version of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (Korean JSPE-S), and then examined participant characteristic variables based on the obtained data and conducted subsequent correlation analyses of subscales, one-way ANOVA, and regression analyses.ResultsMedical students with clinical clerkship experience demonstrated higher levels of perspective-taking and empathy as physicians than did students without experience. Moreover, perspective-taking and empathic concern were significant predictors of medical students’ empathy as physicians in the regression model.ConclusionsMedical students with higher scores in perspective-taking and empathic concern demonstrated higher levels of perception regarding the necessity and importance of empathy as a physician in patient-physician relationships. Therefore, in actual medical situations with patient-centered therapy, to enhance the levels of physician empathy, medical education should focus on the understanding of other persons’ opinions and interpersonal interactions accompanied by empathic concern.
Highlights
The current study proposed the following questions in accordance with the study aims: First, are there differences among medical students in terms of PT, empathic concern (EC), and self-rating of empathy as a physician by gender, year of study, and clinical practice experience? Second, what is the nature of the relationships between medical students’ PT, EC, and selfrating of empathy as a physician?
To measure PT and EC, the two Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) subscales of PT and EC developed by Davis [12] were employed
There was a significant difference by gender with respect to EC such that higher levels of EC were observed among female students than male ones
Summary
This study analyzed the questionnaire responses of 152 medical students enrolled in Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea, in 2018. The authors applied the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Korean Student Version of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (Korean JSPE-S), and examined participant characteristic variables based on the obtained data and conducted subsequent correlation analyses of subscales, oneway ANOVA, and regression analyses. Our study included medical students enrolled in the first to fourth years of Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon City, Gyonggi-do Province, Republic of Korea. PT is defined as the tendency to adopt another person’s psychological point of view and measures the level of the cognitive component of empathy. EC is defined as the tendency to feel sympathy and compassion toward another person and may be considered a measure of the affective component of empathy. The values of Cronbach’s α for PT and EC were 0.727 and 0.802, respectively, indicating acceptable to good internal consistency
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
