A comparative assessment of empathy in medical undergraduates: First-year medical undergraduates versus final-year medical undergraduates in a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India

Abstract

Introduction: Empathy anchors the doctor–patient relationship, making the interaction therapeutic in itself. The concept of empathy, although considered an essential ingredient in the make-up of a physician, remains an unmeasured, untaught entity. Very often, it is considered an inherent trait, with arguments as to whether it can be evoked by training. Past literature speaks of the erosion of empathy with progression in medical school years. Our study aimed to evaluate and compare empathy in 1st year medical undergraduates with final-year medical undergraduates. Methods: A study with cross-sectional, observational design, having enrolled 266 undergraduate medical students from 1st-year medical undergraduates and final-year medical undergraduates, was conducted. Candidates were selected purposively for the study after receiving consent. A semi-structured questionnaire followed by Multidimensional Emotional Empathy Scale, a valid and reliable tool, was used for data collection. Results: First-year medical undergraduates students showed a significant correlation between increased age and decreased empathy, which was not evidenced in final-year medical undergraduates students. Both first and final-year medical undergraduates students showed significant associations between higher empathy scores and self-interest to take up medical undergraduates. Gender, socioeconomic status, residence, and year of medical undergraduates course were not found to have a significant association with empathy scores. Conclusion: Empathy was found to decline with age. A significant correlation was found between one's own desire to take up medical undergraduates course as a career and empathy.