Empathy Score among Student Residence Assistants in Iran

Najmeh Shahini; Kambiz Akhavane Rezayat; Fatemeh Behdani; Seyed Reza Habibzadeh Shojaei; Amir Akhavan Rezayat; Maliheh Dadgarmoghaddam

doi:10.19082/3357

Empathy Score among Student Residence Assistants in Iran

Electron Physician. 2016 Dec 25;8(12):3357-3362. doi: 10.19082/3357. eCollection 2016 Dec.

Authors

Najmeh Shahini¹, Kambiz Akhavane Rezayat², Fatemeh Behdani³, Seyed Reza Habibzadeh Shojaei⁴, Amir Akhavan Rezayat⁵, Maliheh Dadgarmoghaddam⁶

Affiliations

¹ Resident of Psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
² Assistant Professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
³ Professor of Psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁴ Student Research Committee, Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁵ Medical Student, Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁶ Assistant Professor of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

PMID: 28163848
PMCID: PMC5279966
DOI: 10.19082/3357

Abstract

Introduction: Empathy, an essential component of the physician-patient relationship, may be linked to positive patient outcomes. This study aimed to determine the empathy score among student residence assistants (RAs).

Methods: In this descriptive design (cross-sectional study), 102 Iranian RAs participated in the study during 2015, completing the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSPE). Data collection was analyzed using SPSS version 17. MANOVA, independent-samples t-test, Spearman correlation and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used for data analysis.

Results: Mean score of JSE in the sample was 87.06 (±15.14). The mean scores for perspective taking, compassionate care, and standing in the patients shoes were 38.90 (±13.11), 39.27 (±7.94), and 8.89 (±2.80) respectively. Among the three specialties, (psychiatric, internal medicine, surgery) results showed significant differences in total empathy score (p=0.001) and perspective taking score (p= 0.008).

Conclusions: this study showed significant differences in total empathy score and perspective taking in three specialties. We suggest that the curriculum in Iranian RAs include more teaching on empathy and communicational skills.

Keywords: Empathy; Iran; Physician; Psychometrics.