Family Functioning as a Possible Factor that Modulates Empathy Levels in Dental Students

Aim: The objective of this paper is to explore whether there are differences in the levels of empathy and its dimensions between family typologies in dental students. Methodology: A quantitative and not experimental study, with a cross-sectional descriptive design, a population of dental students from the Evangelical University of El Salvador, and a convenience sample were applied. The levels of empathy and family functioning were evaluated using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Health Professions students and the Brief Scale of Family Functioning. The construct validity of both instruments was estimated using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The reliability was estimated using McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha. Comparisons of empathy and its dimensions between family typologies were made using a two-factor analysis of variance. Results: No statistical differences were observed in empathy and its dimensions based on family typologies. It was found that women are more empathic than men. This result is not in accordance with other studies carried out in Latin America on dental and medical students evaluating empathy and family functioning with the same instruments. Conclusions: The distribution of empathy levels and their dimensions are similar among the family typologies studied. Therefore, it was not found that family functioning can influence empathy in the population studied. It is necessary to continue these studies to obtain more empirical evidence regarding the influence of family functioning on empathy.

Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar la existencia de diferencias de los niveles de empatía y de sus dimensiones entre las tipologías familiares en estudiantes de odontología. Metodología: Estudio cuantitativo y no experimental, con un diseño descriptivo transversal, una población de estudiantes de odontología de la Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador y una muestra por conveniencia. Fueron evaluados los niveles de empatía y el funcionamiento familiar mediante la Escala de Empatía de Jefferson para estudiantes de profesiones de la salud y la Escala Breve de Funcionamiento Familiar. Se estimó la validez de constructo de ambos instrumentos mediante Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio y la confiabilidad mediante omega de McDonald y alfa de Cronbach. Las comparaciones de la empatía y sus dimensiones entre las tipologías familiares fueron realizadas mediante análisis de varianza bifactorial. Resultados: No se observaron diferencias estadísticas en la empatía y en sus dimensiones en función de las tipologías familiares. Se encontró que las mujeres son más empáticas que los hombres. Este resultado no está en concordancia con otros estudios realizados en América Latina en estudiantes de odontología y medicina, evaluando la empatía y el funcionamiento familiar con los mismos instrumentos. Conclusiones: La distribución de los niveles de empatía y de sus dimensiones son semejantes entre las tipologías familiares estudiadas. Por lo tanto, no se constató que el funcionamiento familiar tenga un efecto sobre la empatía en la población estudiada. Es necesario continuar estos estudios para obtener mayor evidencia empírica respecto de la influencia del funcionamiento familiar en la empatía.

Consideraciones sobre la declinación empática en estudiantes de medicina en Latinoamérica / Considerations on Empathic Declination in Medical Students in Latin America / Considerações acerca da declinação empática em estudantes de medicina na Latino-América

Resumen Introducción: algunos autores plantean que la empatia en los estudiantes de medicina sufre un proceso de declinación a partir del tercer año de estudios, y otros han encontrado que ello no se da. El objetivo del presente estudio es verificar la coexistencia de varios modelos de comportamiento empático. Materiales y métodos: trabajo exploratorio y transversal. Se aplicó la escala de empatia para estudiantes de medicina (EEJM-S) en tres facultades de medicina de Colombia, El Salvador y Argentina, entre 2018 y 2019. Los valores de las medias de cada año de estudio se sometieron a pruebas de regresión con datos previamente estandarizados. Se realizaron un análisis de varianza (Anova), para comprobar si el coeficiente de la ecuación era diferente de cero, y un Anova secuencial, para determinar el tipo de curva. Resultados: la distribución de las medias, a través de los años de estudio, presentó diversos tipos de curvas de regresión entre las diferentes universidades en la empatia, asi como en cada uno de sus componentes. Conclusión: se comprobó la presencia de tipos diferentes de comportamiento empático (diferentes curvas de regresión) de las medias de los años de estudio entre las distintas facultades estudiadas, y la hipótesis de trabajo planteada resultó verdadera.

Abstract Introduction: Some authors argue that empathy in medical students undergoes a declining process from the third year of medical school. On the other hand, some authors have found that such a decline does not occur. A working hypothesis is proposed which consists of several coexisting empathic behavior models. Materials and methods: Exploratory and transversal work was included as part of this study. The Empathy scale for medical students (EEJM-S) was applied amongst medical students in three medical faculties of Colombia, El Salvador and Argentina between 2018-2019. The mean values of each year of study were subjected to regression tests with previously standardized data. An analysis of variance (Anova) was first performed to determine if the coefficient of the equation was different from zero and sequential Anova was performed to determine the type of curve and distribution of the data. Results: The distribution of the means, through the years of study, presented different types of regression curves between the different universities used in the study, as well as in each of its components for empathy. Conclusion: Differing types of empathic behaviour existed (different regression curves) in the means of the years of study between the different faculties and the working hypothesis proved to be true.

Resumo Introdução: alguns autores propõem que empatia nos estudantes de medicina sofre um processo de declinado a partir de terceiro ano. Por outro lado, outros autores têm encontrado que tal declinado não se produz. Se apresenta a hipótese de trabalho consistente na coexistência de vários modelos de comportamento empático. Materiais e métodos: trabalho exploratório e transversal. Se aplicou a escala de Empatia para estudantes de medicina (EEJM-S) em três faculdades de medicina da Colombia, El Salvador, e a Argentina entre os anos 2018-2019. Os valores das médias de cada ano de estudo foram submetidos a provas de regressão com dados previamente estandardizados. Se realizou primeiro uma análise de variância (Anova) para comprovar se o coeficiente da equação era diferente de cero e Anova sequencial para determinar o tipo de curva. Resultados: a distribuição das médias, através dos anos de estudo, apresentou diferentes tipos de curvas de regressão entre as diferentes universidades estudadas na empatia, assim como em cada um de seus componentes. Conclusao: comprova-se a presenta de tipos diferentes de comportamento empático (diferentes curvas de regressão) das médias dos anos de estudo entre as diferentes faculdades estudadas e a hipótese de trabalho apresentada resulta verdadeira.

Empathy, Components of Empathy and Curricular Evaluation of the Faculty of Dentistry, Evangelical University of El Salvador

Objective: To estimate empathy levels in general and empathic growth potential in dental students. Material and Methods: This is an exploratory, transversal study. The study population is made up of students from the first to fifth academic year of the career of dentistry of the Evangelical University of El Salvador (El Salvador) (148/240, 61.67% of the population studied). The participants were given the Jefferson Empathy Medical Scale, the Spanish version for medical students, validated in Chile and Mexico, and culturally adapted in El Salvador. A bifactorial variance analysis (model III) was applied to find differences in the means between the courses, between the genders and in the interaction between these two factors. The data were described using simple arithmetic graphs, processed with SPSS 22.0. Total growth potential was estimated. Results: Differences were found between academic years, but not in gender of empathy in general and in its components. The levels of empathy and its components are low in relation to other studies. The behavior of the levels of empathy agrees with the concept of empathic decline. The masculine gender presented levels of empathy, in absolute values, greater than the feminine. There is considerable potential for growth in empathy and that of its components. Conclusion: The behavior of the levels of empathy observed in this work does not agree with the concept of empathic decline. The differences observed between the genders were not consistent with those reported by other authors and it is possible that these findings constitute further evidence that empathy itself is not a female attribute.