Learning environment as a predictor for medical students’ empathy: a multicenter cross-sectional study from 12 medical schools in China
Abstract Background Empathy of medical students is crucial, yet it tends to decline as students enter later academic years. Empathy appeared to be affected by the learning environment (LE), which could be a potential contributor. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the association be...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02174-x |
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| author | Runzhi Huang Jiaying Shi Yifan Liu Shuyuan Xian Wei Zhang Yuntao Yao Xinru Wu Yuanan Li Haoyu Zhang Bingnan Lu Jiajie Zhou Yibin Zhou Min Lin Xiaonan Wang Xin Liu Yue Wang Wenfang Chen Chongyou Zhang Erbin Du Qing Lin Zongqiang Huang Yu Chen Jie Zhang Jun Liu Xihui Chen Xiuwu Pan Xingang Cui Shizhao Ji Huabin Yin |
| author_facet | Runzhi Huang Jiaying Shi Yifan Liu Shuyuan Xian Wei Zhang Yuntao Yao Xinru Wu Yuanan Li Haoyu Zhang Bingnan Lu Jiajie Zhou Yibin Zhou Min Lin Xiaonan Wang Xin Liu Yue Wang Wenfang Chen Chongyou Zhang Erbin Du Qing Lin Zongqiang Huang Yu Chen Jie Zhang Jun Liu Xihui Chen Xiuwu Pan Xingang Cui Shizhao Ji Huabin Yin |
| author_sort | Runzhi Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Empathy of medical students is crucial, yet it tends to decline as students enter later academic years. Empathy appeared to be affected by the learning environment (LE), which could be a potential contributor. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the association between LE and empathy. Method The study comprised overall 10,901 medical students from 12 Chinese medical schools. Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) was utilized to assess empathy, while a 5-point question and the Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale were employed to evaluate LE. JSE scores were compared across LE levels using Pearson Chi-square, Welch’s ANOVA, and univariable linear regression. After adjusting for covariates, multivariable linear and logistic regression were used to assess the independent connection between LE and empathy. Confounders were controlled by stratified subgroup analysis. Results LE was significantly associated with medical students’ empathy, as shown by the Pearson Chi-square test (p < 0.001) and Welch’s ANOVA (p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, lower JSE scores were linked to common, bad, and terrible LE (OR = 2.226, 95% CI = [2.011, 2.465], p < 0.001; OR = 2.558, 95% CI = [1.745, 3.751], p < 0.001; OR = 1.889, 95% CI = [1.131, 3.153], p = 0.015), while excellent LE was associated with higher JSE scores (OR = 0.348, 95% CI = [0.312, 0.388], p < 0.001). Linear regression and stratified subgroup analysis confirmed logistic regression’s findings. Conclusion LE was a significant predictor for empathy. Better LE was associated with higher empathy and worse LE was related to lower empathy. This inspired us to improve LE to enhance medical students’ empathy. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d0d21a3f8c54b48938c54fd0cae9ed72025-01-05T12:50:20ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-01-0113111410.1186/s40359-024-02174-xLearning environment as a predictor for medical students’ empathy: a multicenter cross-sectional study from 12 medical schools in ChinaRunzhi Huang0Jiaying Shi1Yifan Liu2Shuyuan Xian3Wei Zhang4Yuntao Yao5Xinru Wu6Yuanan Li7Haoyu Zhang8Bingnan Lu9Jiajie Zhou10Yibin Zhou11Min Lin12Xiaonan Wang13Xin Liu14Yue Wang15Wenfang Chen16Chongyou Zhang17Erbin Du18Qing Lin19Zongqiang Huang20Yu Chen21Jie Zhang22Jun Liu23Xihui Chen24Xiuwu Pan25Xingang Cui26Shizhao Ji27Huabin Yin28Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Burn Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Burn Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineMental Health Education and Consultation Center, Chongqing Medical UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Air Force Medical UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Jinggangshan UniversityBasic Medical College, Harbin Medical UniversityFrist Clinical Medical College, Mudanjiang Medical UniversityDepartment of Human Anatomy, Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Yangpu DistrictDepartment of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineDepartment of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Affiliated to Tongji UniversityClinical Education Centre, the, First Affiliated Hospital , PLA Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Burn Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineAbstract Background Empathy of medical students is crucial, yet it tends to decline as students enter later academic years. Empathy appeared to be affected by the learning environment (LE), which could be a potential contributor. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the association between LE and empathy. Method The study comprised overall 10,901 medical students from 12 Chinese medical schools. Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) was utilized to assess empathy, while a 5-point question and the Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale were employed to evaluate LE. JSE scores were compared across LE levels using Pearson Chi-square, Welch’s ANOVA, and univariable linear regression. After adjusting for covariates, multivariable linear and logistic regression were used to assess the independent connection between LE and empathy. Confounders were controlled by stratified subgroup analysis. Results LE was significantly associated with medical students’ empathy, as shown by the Pearson Chi-square test (p < 0.001) and Welch’s ANOVA (p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, lower JSE scores were linked to common, bad, and terrible LE (OR = 2.226, 95% CI = [2.011, 2.465], p < 0.001; OR = 2.558, 95% CI = [1.745, 3.751], p < 0.001; OR = 1.889, 95% CI = [1.131, 3.153], p = 0.015), while excellent LE was associated with higher JSE scores (OR = 0.348, 95% CI = [0.312, 0.388], p < 0.001). Linear regression and stratified subgroup analysis confirmed logistic regression’s findings. Conclusion LE was a significant predictor for empathy. Better LE was associated with higher empathy and worse LE was related to lower empathy. This inspired us to improve LE to enhance medical students’ empathy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02174-xMedical studentsLearning environment (LE)EmpathyJefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) |
| spellingShingle | Runzhi Huang Jiaying Shi Yifan Liu Shuyuan Xian Wei Zhang Yuntao Yao Xinru Wu Yuanan Li Haoyu Zhang Bingnan Lu Jiajie Zhou Yibin Zhou Min Lin Xiaonan Wang Xin Liu Yue Wang Wenfang Chen Chongyou Zhang Erbin Du Qing Lin Zongqiang Huang Yu Chen Jie Zhang Jun Liu Xihui Chen Xiuwu Pan Xingang Cui Shizhao Ji Huabin Yin Learning environment as a predictor for medical students’ empathy: a multicenter cross-sectional study from 12 medical schools in China BMC Psychology Medical students Learning environment (LE) Empathy Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) |
| title | Learning environment as a predictor for medical students’ empathy: a multicenter cross-sectional study from 12 medical schools in China |
| title_full | Learning environment as a predictor for medical students’ empathy: a multicenter cross-sectional study from 12 medical schools in China |
| title_fullStr | Learning environment as a predictor for medical students’ empathy: a multicenter cross-sectional study from 12 medical schools in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Learning environment as a predictor for medical students’ empathy: a multicenter cross-sectional study from 12 medical schools in China |
| title_short | Learning environment as a predictor for medical students’ empathy: a multicenter cross-sectional study from 12 medical schools in China |
| title_sort | learning environment as a predictor for medical students empathy a multicenter cross sectional study from 12 medical schools in china |
| topic | Medical students Learning environment (LE) Empathy Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02174-x |
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