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KMID : 0381520160280030305
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Korean Journal of Medical Education
2016 Volume.28 No. 3 p.305 ~ p.313
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Measuring medical students’ empathy using direct verbal expressions
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Hur Ye-Ra
Cho A-Ra
Kim Sun
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Abstract
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Purpose: Empathy is an important trait in physicians and a key element in the physician-patient relationship. Accordingly, one of the goals in medical education is developing empathy in students. We attempted to practically assess medical students’ empathy through their direct verbal expressions.
Methods: The medical students’ empathy was measured using the modified Pencil-and-Paper Empathy Rating Test by Winefield and Chur-Hansen (2001). The students took 15 minutes or so to complete the scale, and it was then scored by one of two trained evaluators (0 to 4 points for each item, for a total score of 40). The subjects were 605 medical students, and the data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent t-test, and one-way analysis of variance in SPSS version 21.0.
Results: The students’ empathy scores were low (mean, 12.13; standard deviation, 2.55); their most common responses (78.6%) registered as non-empathetic. Differences in empathy were observed by gender (female students>male students; t=-5.068, p<0.001), school system (medical school>medical college; t=-1.935, p=0.053), and academic level (pre-medical 1 year < other years; t=-4.050, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Our findings lead us to the significant conclusion that there is the need for empathy enhancement training programs with practical content.
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KEYWORD
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Communication skills, Physician-patient relations, Empathy, Professionalism, Medical education
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