Assessment of Undergraduate Medical Students' Understanding of Empathy Toward Family Members and Caregivers

To explore undergraduate medical students' understanding and perceptions of empathy toward caregivers, within the framework of the Attitude, Ethics, and Communication (AETCOM) module.

A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care academic medical institution following the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum.

Second-year MBBS students (n = 113), having clinical exposure and AETCOM training, were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a 15-item questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on students' understanding of empathy, perceived importance of caregiver involvement, personal observations, and suggestions for curriculum improvement. Students were allowed to interact with caregivers in clinical wards, present reflections in class, and view curated videos illustrating caregiver challenges. Group discussions and debriefings were conducted, which further enhanced reflection. Participant anonymity and confidentiality were maintained.

Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism 10. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to summarize demographic information and closed-ended responses, as applicable.

The role of empathy in holistic care, communication gaps with caregivers, emotional challenges faced by families, and recommendations for integrating empathy-focused training into the curriculum were assessed. A significant number of students were aware of the problems of the caregivers and components of empathy.

This study provides insights into students' perspectives on empathy toward caregivers and highlights the need for structured, experiential learning approaches in medical education to foster compassionate care beyond the patient.