Measuring Empathy in Health Care

Sánchez, Gabriel R.; Ward-Peterson, Melissa; Musser, Erica D.; Galynker, Igor; Sandhu, Simran; Foster, Adriana

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-29876-0_4

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…A study by Blanco Canseco et al 51 justified a decline in empathy according to the progress of the degree courses with the possible progress of responsibility assumed by the final year residents and the anxiety due to job uncertainty. Other authors15 found a correlation between age and this decline, the older the patient, the less empathy. There are many possible reasons that can lead to this decline.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…In addition, the development of empathic attitudes has been shown to improve patient health outcomes. 15 However, although the literature on health professions students’ empathy has increased, little research has been done to assess the level of empathy in occupational therapy students. Historically, the first study, developed by Christiansen, 16 assessed empathic skills in occupational therapy students, using the Hogan Empathy Scale 17 and indicated that healthcare professionals show innate skills that facilitate and aid therapeutic relationships.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In occupational therapy, empathy is a key element to consider during the intervention process in order to provide the support and understanding that are necessary to face the difficulties that may arise as a consequence of difficulties in occupational performance. In addition, the development of empathic attitudes has been shown to improve patient health outcomes 15. However, although the literature on health professions students’ empathy has increased, little research has been done to assess the level of empathy in occupational therapy students.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Empathy in occupational therapy students: a cross-sectional study at a Spanish university

et al. 2022

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IntroductionEmpathy is an important interpersonal skill and a fundamental component in the professional–patient relationship, being the basis for implementing person-centred practice. In several studies, a decrease in empathy levels throughout training in medicine, nursing or dentistry, among others, has been shown. There are few studies on the occupational therapy branch of healthcare. The aim was to determine the degree of empathy perceived by students of occupational therapy at a Spanish university, as well as to analyse the differences between empathy levels according to the different degree courses and gender.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was designed with a sample of 221 occupational therapy students from a Spanish university. The Davis Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Student’s Spanish version (JSPE-HPS-S) were used as outcome measures.ResultsAccording to the results found, high level of empathy was found on all dimension of the IRI (69.84 (9.80)) and the JSPE-HPS-S (122 (94–140)). Although high levels of empathy among occupational therapy students are observed in all degree courses, no significant differences were found between them. Statistically significant differences and a moderate effect size (r) were found between the variables according to the gender of the participants, with females showing greater empathy in the overall scores of the IRI as well as in the JSPE-HPS-S (p=0.002, r=0.212; p=0.001, r=0.327, respectively).ConclusionsEmpathy is an essential competence for the development of quality occupational therapy practice. According to the results and although occupational therapy students showed high levels of empathy, it is important to pay attention to the evolution of empathy and to provide students with learning experiences that prevent its possible decline.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Empathy in occupational therapy students: a cross-sectional study at a Spanish university

et al. 2022

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“…However, although empathy may be impaired due to lack of good mentors, lack of time and recognition, or the increased use of diagnostic technology in the healthcare setting (Brown et al [ 17 ], its assessment is indispensable in the health professions educational context because the development of empathic attitudes has been found to improve patient health outcomes [ 18 ]. In these educational contexts, the JSE-HPS [ 3 ] is the most widely used scale to assess empathy which has been also adapted and translated to multiple contexts and has been used in different settings, showing evidence of validity in patient outcomes, clinical competence and personality measurement, as well as evidence comparing groups (i.e., gender).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Jefferson empathy scale health professions students’ version in SpanishOccupational therapy students

Serrada-Tejeda

Sánchez-Herrera-Baeza

Rodríguez-Pérez

et al. 2021

BMC Med Educ

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Background In occupational therapy, empathy is a fundamental concept and has a positive impact on health and quality of care outcomes for patients. It is a basic and essential concept that should prevail in the training of occupational therapy students. The aim of this study is to validate and cross-culturally adapt the Jefferson Medical Empathy Scale, version for health professionals (JSE-HPS) in a sample of Spanish university students of occupational therapy. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between 2019 and 2020. A convenience sample was selected, consisting of 221 students from the four courses of the Occupational Therapy degree at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos during the 2019–20 academic year. Each of the participants voluntarily and anonymously completed a sociodemographic data sheet (including age and sex), in addition to the following assessment scales: JSE-HPS and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Results A culturally adapted version of the JSE-HPS that guarantees conceptual and grammatical equivalence specific to the study population was obtained. The psychometric analysis of the translated version showed a Cronbach coefficient α of 0.786. The test-retest reliability analysis showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.90 (95% CI = 0.86–0.93, p < 0.0001). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed positive results (χ2 = 269.095, df = 167, p < 0.001, Confirmatory Fit Index [CFI] = 0.90, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation [RMSEA] = 0.04). Conclusion The cultural adaptation and psychometric results suggest that the Spanish version of the JSE-HPS is a valid and reliable way to evaluate the empathic ability of occupational therapy students.

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“…In their reviews of research comparing self-ratings of empathy with ratings by others, Davis et al (2006) and Sanchez et al (2019) conclude that the findings thus far are inconsistent but generally unfavorable for self-reports. Investigating the factorial validity of an adapted version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy to measure law students’ levels of empathy, Spivak et al (2018) showed that caution is needed when applying insights from health care research to other contexts.…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Empathy Competencies and Behaviors in Professional Communication Interactions: Self Versus Client Assessments

Fuller

Jong

Kamans

et al. 2023

Business and Professional Communication Quarterly

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Empathy is an important competence for communication professionals. This article investigates two aspects of empathy in an educational setting: the validity of self versus other assessments and the manifestation of empathy in communicative behaviors. Communication students were given a mediating role in discussions with two clients and their empathy was measured using self-ratings and client assessments. Videos of highest- and lowest-rated students were analyzed to identify empathy-related behaviors. No correlation was found between self-rated empathy and clients’ assessments. Several verbal and nonverbal behaviors corresponded to empathy: body language, an other-orientation in asking questions, paraphrasing, and a solution orientation.

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Measuring Empathy in Health Care

Cited by 7 publications

References 64 publications

Empathy in occupational therapy students: a cross-sectional study at a Spanish university

Empathy in occupational therapy students: a cross-sectional study at a Spanish university

Cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Jefferson empathy scale health professions students’ version in SpanishOccupational therapy students

Empathy Competencies and Behaviors in Professional Communication Interactions: Self Versus Client Assessments

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