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Medical empathy in medical students in Madrid: A proposal for empathy level cut-off points for Spain.
Blanco Canseco, José Manuel; Blanco Alfonso, Augusto; Caballero Martínez, Fernando; Hawkins Solís, María Magdalena; Fernández Agulló, Teresa; Lledó García, Lourdes; López Román, Antonio; Piñas Mesa, Antonio; Vara Ameigeiras, Elena Maria; Monge Martín, Diana.
  • Blanco Canseco JM; School of Medicine, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
  • Blanco Alfonso A; Valle de la Oliva Healthcare Centre, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
  • Caballero Martínez F; Reina Victoria Healthcare Centre, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
  • Hawkins Solís MM; Dean School of Medicine, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
  • Fernández Agulló T; School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
  • Lledó García L; Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
  • López Román A; Dean Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain.
  • Piñas Mesa A; School of Medicine, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Madrid, Spain.
  • Vara Ameigeiras EM; School of Medicine, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain.
  • Monge Martín D; School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
PLoS One ; 17(5): e0267172, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1933224
ABSTRACT
This study evaluates the degree of empathy among medical students and its influencing factors at three critical moments of their degree studies (beginning of first year and end of third and sixth years) as well as establishes low-, medium-, and high-empathy cut-off points to obtain valid and reliable results that can be extrapolated to the general population. This cross-sectional study of the eight (public and private) medical schools in the province of Madrid, used an electronic questionnaire with the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE), Medical Student Well-Being Index, and other independent characteristics as measuring instruments. Of the 2,264 student participants, 1,679 (74.0%) were women, with a 50.7% participation rate. No significant differences were found in empathy levels by academic year. Regarding range, percentile and cut-off point tables were established to identify students with high, medium, and low empathy levels. Women (p<0.001), volunteer workers (p<0.001), and those preferring general specialties (internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, or family medicine) scored higher on the JSE (p<0.02). Moreover, 41.6% presented high level of psychological distress. Women reported a lower well-being level and a higher risk of psychological distress (p = 0.004). In sum, the empathy of medical students in Madrid did not differ among the three critical moments of their university studies. The established cut-off points could be taken into account when accessing the medical degree and identifying students with low levels of empathy to implement curricular interventions to rectify this perceived deficiency. There was a high percentage of medical students with high levels of psychological distress.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Students, Medical / Empathy Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0267172

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Students, Medical / Empathy Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0267172