Publication: Exploring Medical Students’ Level of Empathy and its Correlation with Prosocial Behaviour in Jharkhand, India
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Empathy was first introduced in the context of the doctor-patient relationship
by Southard in 1918. It plays a crucial role in enhancing patient compliance and
improving clinical outcomes. Recognizing its significance, there has been a global
emphasis on integrating empathy into medical education.
Objective
To assess empathy levels among medical undergraduate students across different
academic phases and to examine its relationship with self-reported social distancing
behaviour during COVID-19.
Method
A multicentric cross-sectional, observational study was conducted among 459
undergraduate medical students from Phase one to Phase four of medical training
across multiple medical schools in the state of Jharkhand, India. Empathy levels
were assessed using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy – Student Version. Online data
was analysed using SPSS Software version 24.0. Gender based score were tested
with Student’s unpaired t-test, MBBS phase-wise comparisons with ANOVA, and
correlations between empathy and social distancing with Pearson’s coefficient test.
Result
A total of 459 medical students participated in the study. The mean empathy score
across all participants was 105.96 ± 16.55. A significant decline in empathy scores was
observed up to the third phase of medical education, followed by an increase in the
fourth phase. Correlation analysis revealed a positive but non-significant relationship
(r = 0.079, p = 0.093) between empathy and self-reported social distancing behaviour.
Conclusion
The study findings highlight significant variations in empathy levels across different
phases of medical education. Female students exhibited higher empathy levels
than their male counterparts. Additionally, the ‘perspective-taking’ component of
empathy showed a positive correlation with self-reported social distancing behaviour
during COVID-19.
KEY WORDS
COVID-19 pandemic, Communication skills, Competency based medical education,
Empathy, Jefferson scale of empathy
Description
Raj A,1 Mittal S,2 Sinha S,3 Singh SB4
1All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Deoghar, Jharkhand, India
2Department of Physiology
Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute
Delhi University, Delhi, India
3Department of Physiology
Mamata Academy of Medical Sciences
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
4Department of Community Medicine
RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, Communication skills, Competency based medical education, Empathy, Jefferson scale of empathy