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Differences in empathy in Italian university students: Are medical students more or less empathetic?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

M. Pascucci ,
D. Di Sabatino ,
E. Stella ,
M. La Montagna ,
R. Nicastro ,
P. Grandinetti ,
R. Testa ,
P. Parente ,
G. Pozzi  and
L. Janiri
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M. Pascucci
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, Italy Azienda Sanitaria Locale della Provincia di Foggia, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Foggia, Italy
D. Di Sabatino
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, Italy
E. Stella
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, Italy
M. La Montagna
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, Italy
R. Nicastro
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, Italy
P. Grandinetti
Affiliation:
AUSL Modena, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Modena, Italy Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Department of Neuroscience, Rome, Italy
R. Testa
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Department of Neuroscience, Rome, Italy
P. Parente
Affiliation:
Section of Hygiene, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Department of Public Health, Rome, Italy
G. Pozzi
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Department of Neuroscience, Rome, Italy
L. Janiri
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Department of Neuroscience, Rome, Italy
A. Ventriglio
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, Italy Azienda Sanitaria Locale della Provincia di Foggia, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Foggia, Italy
A. Bellomo
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, Italy Azienda Sanitaria Locale della Provincia di Foggia, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Foggia, Italy

Abstract

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Introduction

Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing. It is an important quality in the medical profession, since it is fundamental in interpersonal relationships with patients. Nevertheless, many studies have found that over time medical students (MS) become less empathic and more detached from patients.

Objectives and aims

To determine MS loss of empathy and to study the differences in empathy between MS and other university students who are not involved in healthcare.

Methods

We enrolled 244 MS (120 of the 1st year and 124 of the last year) and 125 other university students not involved in healthcare, in different universities in Rome and Foggia (Italy). They anonymously and voluntarily completed a socio-demographic questionnaire and Baron Cohen's empathy quotient test (EQ).

Results

We found no differences regarding EQ total score between MS and other students, however there are few differences considering individual EQ items. In particular, MS really like taking care of others (P = 0.005) and they are sometimes considered to be rude, even if only they are only blunt (P = 0.006). We found no differences in empathy between first year and last year MS.

Conclusions

In our sample of Italian students, we have not found MS to be more or less empathetic than other university students, but there are some peculiar differences in empathy that make them better suited to the chosen course of study. Moreover, we found no differences between the different years of medical school.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster Viewing: Promotion of mental health
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 41 , Issue S1: Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2017 , pp. S739 - S740
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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