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Empathy study Cologne: A cross-sectional analysis exploring empathy in German dental students

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objectives: Empathy is the basis for patient-centered dentistry, but there are gaps in understanding empathy development within dental education. This study aimed to assess empathy levels among German dental students, including influencing factors such as gender, study year, age, and career interests. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the summer term in 2023, involving 155 dental students from the University of Cologne, Germany. Empathy levels were measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions Students (JSE-HPS) version (twenty items, 7-point-Likert scale, range 20-140 points). Sociodemographic data, including age, gender, study year, and career aspirations, were collected for each student and analyzed. Results: =0.593). Conclusions: High levels of empathy among German dental students were observed, associated with gender specific differences and a significant decrease in empathy in males over the last two years of study. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions, especially in the later years of study, to maintain and promote empathy throughout dental education.

Source: PubMed

DOI: 10.3205/zma001811

Authors: Deeg, Isabel, Serwe, Constantin Justus, Spiekermann, Nils, Brock-Midding, Evamarie, Frenzel Baudisch, Nicolas, Schoppmeier, Christoph Matthias, Barbe, Anna Greta, Wicht, Michael Jochen

Institutions: University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Infas Institut für Angewandte Sozialwissenschaft (Germany)

Language: English

Topic: Empathy and Medical Education

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7129576373

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