Abstract
The Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) is a broadly used instrument developed to measure empathy in the context of health professions education and patient care. Evidence in support of psychometrics of the JSE has been reported in health professions students and practitioners with the exception of osteopathic medical students. This study was designed to examine measurement properties, underlying components, and latent variable structure of the JSE in a nationwide sample of first-year matriculants at U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine, and to develop a national norm table for the assessment of JSE scores. A web-based survey was administered at the beginning of the 2017–2018 academic year which included the JSE, a scale to detect “good impression” responses, and demographic/background information. Usable surveys were received from 6009 students enrolled in 41 college campuses (median response rate = 92%). The JSE mean score and standard deviation for the sample were 116.54 and 10.85, respectively. Item-total score correlations were positive and statistically significant (p < 0.01), and Cronbach α = 0.82. Significant gender differences were observed on the JSE scores in favor of women. Also, significant differences were found on item scores between top and bottom third scorers on the JSE. Three factors of Perspective Taking, Compassionate Care, and Walking in Patient’s Shoes emerged in an exploratory factor analysis by using half of the sample. Results of confirmatory factor analysis with another half of the sample confirmed the 3-factor model. We also developed a national norm table which is the first to assess students’ JSE scores against national data.
Highlights
Personality in health professions education and patient careThe importance of professionalism and its assessment in physicians-in-training and inpractice (Stern 2006) has led to the acknowledgment that at least two major components are involved in medical education (Hojat et al 2014)
Empirical research suggests that a number of personality attributes, including empathy, are among significant predictors of clinical competence of physicians-in-training (Hojat et al 2002a, 2014) and of patient outcomes (Hojat et al 2011; Del Canale et al 2012)
Prior to the development of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE), no psychometrically sound instrument was available for measuring empathy in the context of health professions education and patient care
Summary
The importance of professionalism and its assessment in physicians-in-training and inpractice (Stern 2006) has led to the acknowledgment that at least two major components are involved in medical education (Hojat et al 2014). Empirical research suggests that a number of personality attributes, including empathy, are among significant predictors of clinical competence of physicians-in-training (Hojat et al 2002a, 2014) and of patient outcomes (Hojat et al 2011; Del Canale et al 2012). Prior to the development of the JSE, no psychometrically sound instrument was available for measuring empathy in the context of health professions education and patient care. The JSE is a 20-item instrument developed to measure empathy in the context of health professions education and patient care for administration to health professions students and practitioners. The litmus test for the validity of any empathy-measuring instrument in patient care is the evidence to show significant associations between scores of the instrument and indicators of positive patient outcomes for physicians-in-practice, and clinical competence in physiciansin-training. Significant associations were observed between students’ JSE scores and ratings of clinical competence given by standardized patients in
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