Psychometry and Cut-off Points of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy in Medical Students in Central America and the Caribbean.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine cut-off points that can be used to differentiate measures of empathy, which would then be classified as high, medium, or low. To do so, we used data from students from 7 medical schools in Colombia, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic, after determining the psychometric properties of the 3-dimensional model of empathy in the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, S-version (for medical students). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This non-experimental descriptive study had a sample that consisted of 6291 students. The structure and factor invariance were analyzed by country and sex. A hierarchical cluster analysis and a bifactorial analysis of variance were applied. RESULTS: The measure of empathy was reliable on the global scale (α = .82; ω = .88). A confirmatory factor analysis showed that the original model was replicable and adjusted to the data (comparative fit index [CFI] = .90; goodness of fit index = .94), while the multigroup analysis allowed to assume an invariant factor structure by country and gender (ΔCFI < .01). Tables were constructed with cut off points for empathy and its dimensions. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our study solves the problem of comparing the scores and the levels of empathy observed in the medical students at different schools of medicine, making said comparisons within and between countries and between genders. The instrument used has adequate psychometric properties and the cut-off values obtained allow the classifying of people with lower or higher levels of empathy.

Levels of empathy, empathy decline and differences between genders in medical students of Cartagena (Colombia) / Niveles de empatía, declinación empática y diferencias entre géneros en estudiantes de medicina en Cartagena, Colombia

INTRODUCTION: Empathy helps to develop an appropriate doctor-patient relationship, which, according to the literature is susceptible to decline. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to estimate the levels of empathy in general, and the potential for the growth of empathy in medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This exploratory and cross-sectional study included students from the first to fifth academic year of the University Corporation Rafael Nunez (Cartagena, Colombia) (N = 971, n = 756, 77.86% of the population studied). Participants were given the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, Spanish version for medical students, validated and adapted in Colombia. A bifactorial variance analysis (model III) was used to find the mean differences between courses and genders, and the interaction between these two factors. Data was described using simple arithmetic graphs and processed with SPSS 20.0 to estimate the total potential for growth. RESULTS: Differences were found between academic years and gender in empathy in general and in the component of "compassionate care". CONCLUSION: The levels of empathy are relatively low, and the behavior of empathy levels does not match the concept of empathy decline. There are no gender differences and there is a considerable potential for growth of empathy, as well as its components

INTRODUCCIÓN: La empatía permite la adecuada relación médico-paciente y se plantea que es susceptible de disminuir según lo informado en la literatura. El propósito del presente estudio fue estimar los niveles de empatía en general y el potencial para el crecimiento empático en estudiantes de medicina. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Este estudio exploratorio y transversal, incluyó estudiantes desde el primero al quinto año académico de la Corporación Universitaria Rafael Núñez, Cartagena, Colombia (n = 971, n = 756, 77,86% de la población estudiada). Los participantes recibieron la escala de empatía de Jefferson, versión en español para estudiantes de medicina, validada y adaptada en Chile. Se aplicó un análisis de varianza bifactorial (modelo III) para encontrar diferencias de medias entre cursos, géneros y la interacción entre estos 2 factores. Los datos se describieron usando gráficos aritméticos simples y se procesaron con SPSS® Statistics V.20.0 para estimar el potencial total de crecimiento. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron diferencias entre los años académicos y el género en la empatía en general, y en el componente de «atención compasiva». CONCLUSIÓN: Los niveles de empatía son relativamente bajos, y el comportamiento de los niveles de empatía no coincide con el concepto de disminución empática. No hay diferencias de género, y la estimación del potencial de crecimiento de la empatía y la de sus componentes plantea la necesidad de un urgente cambio curricular