Impact of sensitisation workshop on empathy levels among postgraduate students: A pre-post interventional study

Empathy plays a vital role in patient-centered care, especially in obstetrics and gynaecology, where patients frequently encounter sensitive and emotionally challenging circumstances. This single-center pre-post interventional study involved 75 postgraduate students from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. The intervention was a one-day structured program featuring interactive lectures, educational videos, scenario-based group activities and role-plays. Initial empathy scores were notably low (mean 88.2 ± 7.8). Post-workshop, scores rose markedly to 124.3 ± 8.1 (p < 0.0001). At the eight-week mark, scores decreased to 107.8 ± 9.4 but stayed significantly above baseline (p < 0.0001). The percentage of students achieving high-empathy status (scores ≥116) grew from 21.33% pre-workshop to 33.3% at follow-up.