Stress and Socio-demographic Factors Related to Empathy among Medical Students in Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital
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Abstract
Objective: To study empathy score, stress and socio-demographic factors related to empathy among medical students
Methods: Descriptive cross - sectional study was conducted among 255 first to sixth year medical students at the Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital. The instruments were composed of socio-demographic factors questionnaires, Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) and Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-Student Version (JSPE-S) in Thai language. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis, unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney test, ANOVA, Kruskal- Wallis test, Pearson’s correlation, Spearman’s rank correlation, Point-biserial correlation, Eta correlation and multiple linear regression.
Results: The participants were 255 medical students, male 51.4% and female 48.6%. The mean empathy scores measured by JSPE-S Thai version was 107.80 (S.D.=12.4). The mean of PSS-10 Thai version score was 15.1 (S.D.=5.9). There were no statistically significant differences in empathy scores between subgroup of socio-demographic factors and level of stress. The results indicated that factors that had significant positive correlation with empathy scores were current department study (r = 0.149), students’ socioeconomic status (r = 0.132), effective medical role models (r = 0.005), personal counselors (r = 0.0.005) and stress (r = 0.141). In the regression model, higher socioeconomic status (β = 0.645, p = 0.037), students’ mental problems (β = -0.281, p = 0.027) as well as stressors (β = 0.186, p = 0.038) had an effect on empathy score.
Conclusion: Medical education should emphasize the importance of medical role model, teach how to live a sufficiency economy, and prevent mental health problem in order to enhance the level of empathy in medical students
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References
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