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Empathy Scores and Curriculum Integration at Two Different Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study of Final-Year Medical and Dental Students

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Empathy is a defining trait for healthcare professionals as it fosters trust and understanding between providers and patients. In medical and dental education, empathy is required for enhancing protective health outcomes. Empathy levels vary among medical students throughout their medical schooling and are impacted by factors such as curriculum structure, clinical exposure, and personal characteristics. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare empathy scores corresponding to different levels of curricular integration as defined by Harden, in order to identify any potential differences in empathy levels between two groups. METHODOLOGY: Two study samples, one consisting of medical students and the other of dental students, completed the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Scale-Revised (KCES-R). Empathy scores were assessed across two levels of curriculum integration based on Harden's integration ladder. RESULTS: The results indicated that students instructed at a higher level of curricular integration reported higher empathy scores compared to those instructed at a lower integration level. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest a positive relationship between curricular integration and empathy scores in medical and dental students.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.79104

Authors: Amna Faisal, Saira Akhlaq, Naveed Bhatti

Institutions: HITEC Institute of Medical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University

Language: English

Topic: Empathy and Medical Education

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4407606879