[Level and dynamics of empathy in I and VI year students at the Medical Academy of Medicine in Gdańsk].

Abstract

Empathy is and important element in achieving didactic goals in the field of communication skills. It is a valuable feature particularly in the family doctor practice. 353 students (210 female and 143 male) from the first and last year of medical school were survived by using the psychological questionnaire-"Emotional Empathy Scale" by A. Mehrabian and N. Epstein, evaluating emotional aspects of empathy. The findings suggest that the level of empathy is higher among women than among men from the first year. The difference is statistically significant. During six years of medical education there is a significant decrease of empathy skill in women, specially in its emotional aspect. These students represent the lack of willingness in contact with people having problems. According to these findings we decided to continue our research to check the hypothesis concerning reasons of decreasing level of empathy in medical students.