Study reveals alarming levels of low empathy among medical students and residents in Thailand
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 01, 2024 2 months, 3 weeks, 9 hours, 19 minutes ago
Thailand Medical: Empathy is a cornerstone of effective medical care, significantly impacting patient outcomes, clinical competence, and the overall doctor-patient relationship. However, recent research conducted at Phramongkutklao College of Medicine (PCM) and Phramongkutklao Hospital (PMK) in Thailand has shed light on an alarming trend: a significant decline in empathy among medical students and residents. This
Thailand Medical News report will delve into the findings of this comprehensive study, exploring the factors contributing to this decline and its potential implications for the future of healthcare in Thailand.
Study reveals alarming levels of low empathy among medical students and residents in Thailand
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The Study: A Comprehensive Examination of Empathy Levels
The study, conducted by researchers from PCM and PMK, aimed to understand empathy trends across different stages of medical education within a single institution. The researchers focused on second to sixth-year medical students and first to second-year residents, enrolling a total of 520 participants. The study utilized a standardized questionnaire, including the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE), to measure empathy levels. The results were telling: the average empathy score across all participants was 103.8, with 27.1% of individuals falling into the low empathy category.
Declining Empathy: A Worrying Trend
One of the most concerning findings of the study is the significant decline in empathy as students progress through their medical education. Second-year medical students reported the highest average empathy scores, while empathy levels sharply declined as students advanced through their clinical years and into residency. By the time students reached their sixth year, the proportion of those with low empathy had more than doubled compared to earlier years. This decline plateaued somewhat during residency, but empathy levels remained lower than desired.
Factors Contributing to Low Empathy
The study identified several key factors associated with low empathy levels among medical students and residents. Notably, individuals who preferred or were engaged in procedure-oriented specialties, such as radiology or pathology, were more likely to have lower empathy scores. Additionally, residents in technology-oriented fields, like orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery, also exhibited reduced empathy. These findings suggest that the nature of certain medical specialties, which may involve less direct patient interaction, could contribute to a decline in empathy.
Another critical factor identified was the influence of family relationships and financial background.
Participants who reported lower satisfaction with their current family relationships were more likely to have lower empathy levels. Interestingly, the study also found that higher household income was associated with reduced empathy, possibly due to the independence and self-reliance that wealth can bring, leading to less concern for others
9; feelings.
The Impact of Gender and Academic Performance
Gender differences also played a role in empathy levels. Female participants generally scored higher on the empathy scale compared to their male counterparts, although the difference was not statistically significant after adjusting for other factors. However, non-binary participants reported significantly lower empathy levels, though the small sample size of this group in the study suggests that further research is needed to confirm this finding.
Additionally, the study revealed an inverse relationship between academic performance, as measured by cumulative grade point average (GPAX), and empathy levels among residents. This suggests that the intense focus on cognitive skills in medical education may come at the expense of emotional and interpersonal skills, highlighting the need for a more balanced approach in medical training.
The Implications for Medical Education
The findings of this study raise important questions about the current structure of medical education in Thailand. The significant decline in empathy as students progress through their training is concerning, particularly given the vital role that empathy plays in patient care. The study's authors suggest that addressing this issue will require a concerted effort from both educators and students.
One potential solution is to incorporate more empathy-focused training into the medical curriculum. This could include workshops, patient interaction simulations, and reflective exercises that encourage students to engage with the emotional aspects of patient care. Additionally, fostering a supportive learning environment that values and models empathy could help mitigate some of the factors contributing to its decline.
Conclusions and the Path Forward
In conclusion, this study findings have revealed a worrying trend of declining empathy among medical students and residents in Thailand. The findings suggest that several factors, including specialty choice, family relationships, and academic pressures, contribute to this decline. Addressing this issue will require a multi-faceted approach, involving changes to medical education and a greater emphasis on the importance of empathy in patient care.
As this study has explored, the implications of declining empathy are far-reaching, potentially affecting the quality of care that future doctors provide. Therefore, it is crucial for medical institutions to take these findings seriously and work towards creating a more empathetic healthcare environment.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: BMC Medical Education.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-024-05962-6
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