Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026
A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences
Published on: September 4, 2019
Measuring Medical Students' Empathy: Exploring the Underlying Constructs of and Associations Between Two Widely Used
Patrício Costa1, Marco Antonio de Carvalho-Filho, Marcelo Schweller
1P. Costa is assistant professor, School of Health Sciences, and researcher in medical education, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. M.A. de Carvalho-Filho is professor of medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Brazil. M. Schweller is emergency medicine physician and preceptor, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Brazil. P. Thiemann is research assistant, Palliative Care Group, Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. A. Salgueira is a PhD student, School of Health Sciences, and researcher in medical education, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. J. Benson is senior lecturer, General Practice, and director, General Practice Education Group, Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. M.J. Costa is associate professor, School of Health Sciences, and researcher in medical education, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. T. Quince is medical educational research associate, Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care and School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Purpose:
Understanding medical student empathy is important to future patient care; however, the definition and development of clinical empathy remain unclear. The authors sought to examine the underlying constructs of two of the most widely used self-report instruments-Davis's Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy version for medical students (JSE-S)-plus, the distinctions and associations between these instruments.
Method:
Between 2007 and 2014, the authors administered the IRI and JSE-S in three separate studies in five countries, (Brazil, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, and the United Kingdom). They collected data from 3,069 undergraduate medical students and performed exploratory factor analyses, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression analyses.
Results:
Exploratory factor analysis yielded identical results in each country, confirming the subscale structures of each instrument. Results of correlation analyses indicated significant but weak correlations (r = 0.313) between the total IRI and JSE-S scores. All intercorrelations of IRI and JSE-S subscale scores were statistically significant but weak (range r = -0.040 to 0.306). Multiple linear regression models revealed that the IRI subscales were weak predictors of all JSE-S subscale and total scores. The IRI subscales explained between 9.0% and 15.3% of variance for JSE-S subscales and 19.5% for JSE-S total score.
Conclusions:
The IRI and JSE-S are only weakly related, suggesting that they may measure different constructs. To better understand this distinction, more studies using both instruments and involving students at different stages in their medical education, as well as more longitudinal and qualitative studies, are needed.
More Related Videos
07:32Use of Galvanic Skin Responses, Salivary Biomarkers, and Self-reports to Assess Undergraduate Student Performance During a Laboratory Exam Activity
Published on: February 10, 2016
06:04Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
02:34Empathy
02:16Surveys
01:24Strategies of Self-Presentation III: Self-Monitoring
02:40The Scientific Method