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Changes in the Affective Empathy of Osteopathic Students: a Longitudinal Study
Bruce W Newton1,2, Zachary T Vaskalis3
1Department of Anatomy, Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lillington, NC USA.
Medical Science Educator
|January 6, 2025
Summary
Affective empathy declines in male medical students, particularly those choosing non-core specialties. Female students and those in core specialties better maintain empathy throughout medical school.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Empathy Studies
- Psychology of Healthcare Professionals
Background:
- Establishing an empathic bond is crucial for patient trust and perceived physician care.
- Longitudinal studies reveal a decline in affective empathy among allopathic medical students during their education.
- Limited research exists on affective empathy changes in osteopathic medical students over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess changes in affective empathy among osteopathic medical students.
- To investigate the influence of specialty choice (Core vs. Non-Core) and sex on affective empathy.
- To compare empathy trajectories between osteopathic and allopathic medical students.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study tracked graduating classes of 2017-2019 from Campbell University's School of Osteopathic Medicine.
- The Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES) was administered five times from M1 to M4F.
- Data on sex and desired specialty (Core: patient-oriented; Non-Core: technical-oriented) were collected.
Main Results:
- Male osteopathic students showed a significant decline in affective empathy (BEES scores) over the study period (p < 0.001).
- This decline was more pronounced in men selecting Non-Core specialties (p = 0.001).
- Female students exhibited no significant drop in BEES scores, regardless of specialty choice, and consistently scored higher than men.
Conclusions:
- Osteopathic medical students experience a decline in affective empathy, with variations based on sex and specialty.
- Students choosing patient-oriented Core specialties demonstrated better retention of affective empathy compared to those in technical Non-Core specialties.
- Findings suggest differences in empathy erosion trajectories between osteopathic and allopathic medical students.
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