Comparing Empathy in Medical Students of two Portuguese Medicine Schools

Abstract Objectives To evaluate differences in empathy between the Integrated Master’s degree in Medicine (MIM) students from the Faculty of Medicine - University of Coimbra (FMUC) and the Faculty of Health Sciences - University of Beira Interior (FCS-UBI). Methodology Cross-sectional observational study with the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy – students’ Portuguese version (JSPE – spv) to 1st, 3rd and 6th year students of the 2017/2018 academic year with descriptive and inferential statistical analysis (p<0.05). Results Size representative sample of 795 students. Higher total empathy score (TES) (p=0.008) and "Perspective taking" (p=0.001) in FCS-UBI were found. JSPE-TES was higher in FCS-UBI, 3rd year (p=0.038). Higher FCS-UBI "Perspective taking" in the 1st year (p=0.030) and 6th year (p=0.044), for "Compassionate care" in the 3rd (p=0.019) and for "Standing in the patient’s shoes" in the 1st year (p=0.018) and in FMUC for "Compassionate care" in the 1st year (p=0.037) and the "Standing in the patient’s shoes" in the 3rd year (p=0.002) were found. Higher levels of empathy were found in FCS-UBI female students, for JSPE-TES (p=0.045) and "Perspective taking" (p=0.001).Conclusion Higher e mpathy levels in FCS-UBI were found, with different results in the third year suggesting influence of the medical course teaching characteristics.