Objective: To compare the levels of empathy evaluated in two different years at a university under-going continuous and successful accreditation processes. Material andmethods: Exploratory and longitudinal research. The empathy measurements, in two moments (2016 and 2022), of dentistry students in a university undergoing successful institu-tional accreditation processes (2017 and 2022) were compared. Empathy data were obtained using the Jefferson Empathy Scale (student version). The reliability was estimated, and the compliance of the three-dimensional model of empathy and invariance of the model in the analyzed groups were checked. Empathy comparisons were performed using a trifactorial analysis of variance. The signi-ficance level used was α<.05 and β>.80. Results. The reliability of the data, the presence of the three-dimensional model, and the invarian-ce of the model were verified. The values of empathy and the Perspective and “Walking in Patient’s Shoes” dimensions do not differ between the compared years, but the Compassionate Care dimension did. The classification of the observed empathy values, places it as “medium level”. Conclusions.The levels of empathy, classified as medium level, did not vary between the two stu-died moments. The study allows us to say that, possibly, the systematic absence of teaching empa-thy could be a factor why this attribute has not increased.
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