Malaysian Medical Students’ self-reported Empathy: A cross-sectional Comparative Study
- Author:
Brett Williams
;
Sivalal Sadasivan
;
Amudha Kadirvelu
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Empathy;
Caring;
Culture;
Malaysia;
Medical Students
- MeSH:
Students, Medical
- From:
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
2015;70(2):76-80
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare
empathy levels between first year and second year medical
students at a Malaysian University.
Setting: A Malaysian University offering undergraduate
medicine.
Participants: 204 undergraduate medical students were
included in the data analysis (122 first years, and 102 second
years).
Main outcome measure: Self-reported empathy scores using
the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (Student Version)
JSPE-S.
Results: The mean empathy score for first year students was
112.1(SD=10.7). This was significantly higher (p<0.038;
d=0.31) than second year students (mean=108.8, SD=10.4).
No significant difference relating to gender was identified.
Conclusion: Cross-sectional results from this study found
that that there were differences in self-reported empathy
scores between year one and year two students. Further
research is required to ascertain if these differences are
maintained as students’ progress thought their medical
degree, and whether other factors such as internships,
medical rotations or clinical supervision have any impact of
medical students’ empathy levels.
- Full text:P020150724524603030038.pdf
