Eileen Hoskin; Karl Woodmansey; Lynn Beck; Tobias Rodriguez
Abstract
Background and Objectives Healthcare providers must endeavor to treat patients with empathy if they expect to practice successfully. Empathy is especially relevant to dentists who provide treatment that is usually associated with pain and invasion of personal space boundaries. A 2011 study by Konrath ...
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Background and Objectives Healthcare providers must endeavor to treat patients with empathy if they expect to practice successfully. Empathy is especially relevant to dentists who provide treatment that is usually associated with pain and invasion of personal space boundaries. A 2011 study by Konrath and O’Brien showed that undergraduate college students have less empathy than the past generations. Anecdotal reports and the author's personal experiences also suggest a reduction in empathy among current dental students. This study was designed to assess empathy in a dental student cohort at a dental school in the United States. Methods This study examined empathy levels in third- and fourth-year dental students at a dental school in the United States using existing validated medical education psychometric assessments modified for dental education. Specifically, the Jefferson scale of physician empathy-health professional (JSPE-HP) and patient-practitioner orientation scale (PPOS) questionnaires were modified for use in the dental education domain by substituting the word “dentist” for “physician” and replacing “medical procedures” with “dental procedures.” E-mails were sent to all 240 third- and fourth-year dental students at the Rutgers school of dental medicine (RSDM) inviting them to participate in a brief online survey about their perceptions of dentist-patient interactions. Results Of the 240 invited students, 84 participated in the survey (27%). All questions were answered with a high empathy rating except for two questions - “It is difficult for me to view things from my patient’s perspective” and “I can treat and relate best to patients who look like me and have similar beliefs.” The calculated Cronbach’s coefficient alpha was 0.71 indicating acceptable internal consistency reliability. Conclusions This study did not confirm the hypothesis that students lacked empathy. Only two statements were answered in ways that suggested a decrease in empathic cognition. The responses to the open-ended questions provided an insight into the students’ self-interested thought processes.
Esmat Noohi; Ali Akbar Haghdoost; Afsaneh Mohammadi
Volume 12, Issue 3 , November 2015, , Pages 442-449
Abstract
Background & Objective: Learning environment should be opportunities for positive change in students attitude to encourage them and create more interest leading to sustainable learning To make constructive changes having information on the current status and about students attitudes toward their ...
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Background & Objective: Learning environment should be opportunities for positive change in students attitude to encourage them and create more interest leading to sustainable learning To make constructive changes having information on the current status and about students attitudes toward their discipline is essential This study was designed to assess the medical and dental students attitude toward their study field (learning environment practicability attraction social rank and future employment) before and after experiencing clinical practice in Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran Methods: This crosssectional analytic study was conducted in 2012 The study population were 95 medical and dental students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences as census of students A researchermade questionnaire was designed consisting 33 questions in five areas of the components of medical education and health care (education environment applicability of the course the attractiveness of the field career and social status) Data were analyzed using paired t ANOVA and MannWhitney U tests via SPSS software Results: There were significant differences between the medical students attitude toward educational environment and practicability of the field before and after experiencing clinical practice but there was no significant difference between their attitude toward attraction future employment and social rank of the field On the other hand there were significant differences between dental students attitudes toward educational environment and future employment before and after experiencing clinical practice but there was no significant difference between their attitudes toward practicability attraction and social rank of the field In addition there was no significant difference between the two groups based on gender and age Conclusion: The results showed significant differences only in three educational components between two groups of students According to obtained data short and longtime plans could be designed for increasing the efficiency of education improving educational structure and obtaining welfare and economical possibilities for students
