PROFESSIONAL EMPATHY AMONG STUDENTS OF DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL LEVELS AT FACULTY OF DENTISTRY, ALEXANDRIA UNIVERSITY (A CROSS -SECTIONAL STUDY) | ||||
| Alexandria Dental Journal | ||||
| Article 4, Volume 50, Issue 2, August 2025, Page 244-252 PDF (409.9 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/adjalexu.2024.337716.1554 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Mariam Amr Deif  1; Mona Khalil El-Kashlan2; Susan Mohamed Saleh2
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| 171. Mostafa Kamel buildings | ||||
| 2Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background. Dental professionalism is considered an essential component in dental education, with empathy being regarded as one of its primary features. Empathy, the capacity to listen, comprehend, and assist others, is linked to positive outcomes for both patients and clinicians. However, no research has assessed the development of empathy among dental students in Egypt. Objective. To assess empathy level as an aspect of professionalism among dental students of Alexandria University, and to examine its trend throughout the academic years. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was adopted, with a sample of 750 students divided into four subgroups: 4th year, 5th year, interns, and postgraduate students. Proportional allocation was used to determine each group's sample size. They were requested to fill out the Jefferson Scale of Empathy questionnaire, which covers different aspects of empathy “perspective taking”, “compassionate care” and “standing in patients’ shoe”. The data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results. The mean empathy score was 99.07 ± 15.91. Among the subscales, the highest mean percentage score was on "standing in patients' shoes" 75.78 ± 21.90, followed by "compassionate care" 65.48 ± 15.32 and "perspective-taking" 64.24 ± 13.73. Mean empathy scores significantly decreased with higher education levels. Multiple linear regression revealed that class year, nationality, and training in professionalism were the strongest factors influencing empathy levels. Conclusion. Empathy significantly declines during dental school, as students start patient-focused training when it is most crucial. Incorporating empathy training courses into the curriculum is recommended to enhance student learning and improve patient care outcomes. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Professionalism; Empathy; dentist-patient relationship; Dental education; Dental students | ||||
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