Korean J Med Educ.  2014 Sep;26(3):217-221. 10.3946/kjme.2014.26.3.217.

How well do medical students express empathy?

• Hur Y
• Cho AR
• Kim S

• KMID: 2306435
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2014.26.3.217

Abstract

PURPOSE
Empathy is an important trait of a physician and a key element in the physician-patient relationship. This study evaluated the ability to express empathy in medical students.
METHODS
Medical student empathy was measured by the modified Pencil-and-Paper Empathy Rating Test of Winefield and Chur-Hansen. The subjects comprised 110 medical students. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis and t-test using SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp.).
RESULTS
Empathy rating test scores were low-level in medical students (mean, 12.59). There were no differences in the level of ability to express empathy between genders (t=-1.714, p=0.089).
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that practical training in expressing empathy should be included in medical education and that an empathy training program must be focused on changes in behavior.

Keyword

Medical education; Medical students; Empathy; Communication; Physician-patient relations

MeSH Terms

Education
Education, Medical
Empathy*
Humans
Physician-Patient Relations
Students, Medical*