Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2017  |  Volume : 15  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 162--165

Assessment of empathy among clinical dental students in a teaching dental institution in Telangana State, India


V Siva Kalyan1, S Manjula2, T Madhavi Padma1, K. V. N. R. Pratap1, P Vineela1, Surya Chandra Varma1 
1 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Mamata Dental College, Khammam, Telangana, India
2 Department of Psychiatry, Mamata Medical College, Khammam, Telangana, India

Correspondence Address:
V Siva Kalyan
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Mamata Dental College, Khammam, Telangana
India

Introduction: The understanding of patient's view is considered as an important component in doctor–patient relationship. The health-care provider with an empathetic understanding may perceive patient's need as more reasonable and thus therapeutic. Aim: To assess empathy among clinical dental students in a teaching dental institution. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among clinical dental students during the period between June 2016 and July 2016 in a teaching dental institution in Khammam town. Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Care Provider Student version was used to assess empathy among the students in this study. Gender differences were analyzed using t-test, and one-way ANOVA was used for comparison of empathy scores across year of study. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 364 students participated in the study with a mean age of 22.76 ± 2.4 years. Males exhibited more empathy (86.54 ± 7) compared to females. The mean empathy level was found to be highest for the postgraduates (85.92 ± 6.5) followed by 3rd year students (P = 0.0943). Conclusion: There is a need to train these students not only from technical point of view but also in “life skills” such as communication, interpersonal relationship and empathy.


How to cite this article:
Kalyan V S, Manjula S, Padma T M, Pratap K, Vineela P, Varma SC. Assessment of empathy among clinical dental students in a teaching dental institution in Telangana State, India.J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2017;15:162-165


How to cite this URL:
Kalyan V S, Manjula S, Padma T M, Pratap K, Vineela P, Varma SC. Assessment of empathy among clinical dental students in a teaching dental institution in Telangana State, India. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent [serial online] 2017 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];15:162-165
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2017;volume=15;issue=2;spage=162;epage=165;aulast=Kalyan;type=0