A study of empathy decline in students from five health disciplines during their first year of training

dc.creator	Paula Nunes
dc.creator	Stella Williams
dc.creator	Bidyadhar Sa
dc.creator	Keith Stevenson
dc.date	2011-02-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:21:05Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:21:05Z
dc.identifier	10.5116/ijme.4d47.ddb0
dc.identifier	2042-6372
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/babd951b4ed249a191bd1fe175ef8f7f
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/20293
dc.description	Objectives: This cross-sectional study examines the self-reported empathy levels of undergraduate students in five different health sciences disciplines before and after one year of training at the St Augustine Campus, University of the West Indies. Methods: Students enrolled into the schools of dentistry, pharmacy, medicine, veterinary medicine and nursing self administered the Jefferson Scale of Empathy on entering their first year of training (n=355). Mean empathy scores were then compared between and among groups to scores on retesting at the end (n=366) of their first year using independent t- tests and one way between groups using ANOVA with planned comparisons. Results: Female students and students older than 27 years were found to be more empathic than male students and those less than 21 years respectively. The highest mean empathy scores on entry to university were noted in nursing and dental students. On repeat testing mean empathy scores declined in all 5 groups, with the declines among medical, nursing and dental students achieving statistical significance. Conclusions: This study shows that the decline in self reported empathy scores starts during the first year of training. Whilst this decline may be partly due to a 'settling in' phenomenon with a change from idealism to realism, students may also be displaying an adaptive response to new responsibilities and an increasing workload. With the current trend of blurred professional boundaries for healthcare providers, empathy is an important skill to be developed by all disciplines. Health educators now need to consider addressing those factors that may check its further decline.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	IJME
dc.relation	http://www.ijme.net/archive/2/empathy-decline-in-first-year-students.pdf
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2042-6372
dc.rights	CC BY
dc.source	International Journal of Medical Education, Vol 2, Pp 12-17 (2011)
dc.subject	empathy
dc.subject	medical education
dc.subject	nursing
dc.subject	dental
dc.subject	undergraduate
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	A study of empathy decline in students from five health disciplines during their first year of training
dc.type	article