Kanokrot Kovjiriyapan 

Empathy is the ability to understand other persons feelings and perspectives. In healthcare setting, it improves patient satisfaction, increases adherence to therapy and gets better health outcomel. To improve patient care, promoting empathy in medical students toward colleagues and patients is necessary. 

Summary of work 

At the beginning of the new clinical academic year, we conducted an interprofessional activity for fourth year medical students to enhance empathy. They were assigned to work with hospital porters, operating room workers, nurse aids, pharmacists, nurses for 1 day. After that, a self- report questionnaire is used to evaluate students’ empathy score toward their colleagues and compare with third, fifth and sixth year medical students’ empathy score. 

Results 

There were 26 males and 26 females medical students participating in interprofessional activity. The mean empathy scores in male and female were no significant differences. The mean empathy score (53.46) was highest in sixth-year medical students. The mean empathy score of fourth-year medical students who participated in interprofessional activity was 50.14. 

To improve patient care, the development of empathy among medical students is the important goal for medical educators. There are many methods for promoting and teaching empathy to medical students such as patient narratives, simulated teaching, and interprofessional skills training. It was possible that holistic approach plays a key role in empathy in sixth year students, so the empathy score was highest. On observation the empathy score in fourth year medical students who participated in interprofessional activity was also high. This activity helps them understand the colleagues’ feelings and perspective. However, teaching empathy to medical students needs to continue and using a multimodality approach to shape student empathy during their time in medical school. 

Conclusion
Medical students’ empathy can be promoted by interprofessional activity


Take-home messages 

Medical students’ empathy should be continued to develop. 

References (maximum three) 

Prianna M, Salman YG, Salman GS. A Systematic Review of Educational Interventions and Their Impact on Empathy and Compassion of Undergraduate Medical Students. Front Med 2021;758377.