Longitudinal Assessment of Empathy and Burnout Across a Single Pharmacy Class Cohort

Jaclyn D Cole; Melissa J Ruble; Jeanne L Jacoby; Amy B Smith; Shae Duka; Hope Kincaid; Joann Farrell Quinn

doi:10.1016/j.ajpe.2023.100604

Longitudinal Assessment of Empathy and Burnout Across a Single Pharmacy Class Cohort

Am J Pharm Educ. 2024 Jan;88(1):100604. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2023.100604. Epub 2023 Oct 11.

Authors

Jaclyn D Cole¹, Melissa J Ruble², Jeanne L Jacoby³, Amy B Smith³, Shae Duka³, Hope Kincaid³, Joann Farrell Quinn⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of South Florida, Taneja College of Pharmacy, Tampa, FL, USA.
² University of South Florida, Taneja College of Pharmacy, Tampa, FL, USA. Electronic address: mruble@usf.edu.
³ Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network/University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine (USF-MCOM), Lehigh Valley Campus, Allentown, PA, USA.
⁴ University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine (USF-MCOM), Tampa Campus, Tampa, FL, USA.

PMID: 37832651
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2023.100604

Abstract

Objective: This is a final analysis of longitudinal evaluation of burnout and empathy among a cohort of Doctor of Pharmacy students throughout their 4-year enrollment.

Methods: The class of 2021 received sequential Qualtrics (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) surveys containing 2 validated survey instruments, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Surveys were disseminated at the start of the program (PY1_start) and the end of each academic year (PY1_end, PY2, PY3, PY4). Linear mixed models accounting for repeated measures, Generalized Estimating Equation, and Cochran's Q statistic were used to evaluate longitudinal change in the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and Maslach Burnout Inventory survey scores, categorized subscales, and burnout.

Results: Matched survey responses were included for 91 students (85.8% response rate). Across all years, a decrease in empathy and professional efficacy and an increase in exhaustion and cynicism was seen. High categorical levels of exhaustion and cynicism indicated evidence of burnout throughout the program. Year-to-year analysis indicated statistically significant increases in exhaustion and cynicism between PY1_start and all subsequent assessments, a decrease in professional efficacy from PY1_start to PY1_end and PY2, and a decrease in empathy for PY1_start to PY1_end.

Conclusion: Students reported trends of decreasing empathy and professional efficacy, with a simultaneous increase in exhaustion and cynicism. Further evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 on these results, as well as additional methods to support overall student wellness, is needed.

Keywords: Burnout; Empathy; Impact; Longitudinal; Pharmacy students.

MeSH terms

Burnout, Professional* / epidemiology
Burnout, Psychological
Education, Pharmacy*
Empathy
Humans
Pharmacy*
Psychological Tests*
Self Report*
Students, Medical*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Supplementary concepts

Maslach Burnout Inventory