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Empathy Fatigue in Osteopathic Medical Students
Gernert, E. [1]
Malaker, P. [1]
Nguyen, T. [3]
Uptegrove, L. [1]
Nagireddi, S. [1]

Journal: Journal of Osteopathic Medicine Date: 2023/12, 123(12):Pages: A97-A98. doi: Subito , type of study: Meta analysis

Full text    (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jom-2023-2000/html)

Keywords:

empathy [50]
medical students [402]
meta analysis [43]
osteopathic medicine [1540]
USA [1086]

Abstract:

Statement of Significance: Empathy is considered a major element of medical professionalism[1, 2]. Statistically significant positive associations have been reported between empathy scores and clinical competence or clinical outcomes among medical students and physicians [3, 4]. There have been a limited number of studies of empathy conducted among osteopathic medical students in comparison to their allopathic counterparts. As osteopathic medical students progress through training from year 1 to year 3, there is a decrease in self-reported empathy via the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE). Research Methods: Data was gathered through a Google Scholar search of the key words “empathy fatigue in osteopathic medical students.” Four studies were found that compare empathy in osteopathic students from several osteopathic schools during their first and third years of medical school[2, 5-7]. In all of these studies, empathy was measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy. The aggregate data was analyzed using the random-effects model. The studies in the analysis are assumed to be a random sample from a universe of potential studies, and this analysis will be used to make an inference to that universe. The data in these studies was compared by analyzing the difference in means. Effect size was measured by using Cohen’s D score (standard difference in means). Heterogeneity was measured using an I2 score. The difference in means, as well as their confidence intervals, was visualized in a forest plot (Figure 1). All data was analyzed using the Comprehensive Meta analysis v4 program. Data Analysis: The I2 value for the pooled data is 41%, which puts the data in the category of low variance. The values for standard difference in means, standard error, variance, lower/upper limits, z-value, p-value, and N data can be seen in Table 1. A comparison of the data, as well as the pooled data, is shown as a forest plot in Figure 1. With a P-value of 0.123, we fail to reject the null hypothesis that by the third year of osteopathic medical school, students do not experience empathy fatigue. Conclusion: The current meta-analysis provides evidence that osteopathic medical education does not cause a significant loss of empathy throughout the first three years of medical education. Future research should consider longitudinal studies that examine the progression of empathy in individuals over the 4 years of medical school and may consider further study during residency. Additionally, it would be worth examining the impact of geographic location, core site of rotations, and osteopathic medical school attended which may account for the variation in previous studies. Examining the relationship between empathy and physician education is essential to improving physician education and developing caring and compassionate physicians.

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