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Measuring Empathy of Undergraduate Dietetics Students at two Southwestern Ohio Universities

Tamsukhin, Sara
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1660815495043794

Abstract Details

2022, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Educational Studies.
Clinical empathy is essential for patient-centered care (PCC). Practicing empathy allows providers to develop a relationship with their patients. PCC, the provider-patient relationship, and empathy improve health outcomes. However, little research is available related to US dietetics students’ empathy. The purpose of this study was to learn more about US undergraduate dietetics students’ empathy. This study adds to the literature on empathy by answering two research questions: 1) How do college students enrolled in dietetics programs in Southwest Ohio score on the Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions Student (JSE-HPS©) version? 2) When examining dietetics students’ empathy scores and demographics, what associations and relationships emerge? Seventy-one students from two Southwestern Ohio universities completed the survey which included demographic questions, clinical experience questions, and the JSE-HPS©. The majority of respondents were female, white, and non-Hispanic. In response to the first question, the mean empathy score of undergraduate dietetics students in this study was 114.69 (SD=11.09). The range of scores was 81 to 137. Total scores were then considered as they related to each demographic: university, gender, race, ethnicity, age, year in school, income, clinical experiences in coursework, and clinical experiences through paid work or volunteering. Welch’s t-test did not show significant differences by gender, ethnicity, university, clinical experiences in coursework, or clinical experiences through paid work or volunteering. Kruskal-Wallis chi-squared test did not show significant differences by year in program, age, or income. Biserial correlation between total score and gender showed a significant but weak negative relationship. Stepwise multiple regression was performed and results indicated that gender was a significant predictor of total score. Research on empathy has significant implications for dietetics education. Burnout is a risk for healthcare providers that impacts the use of empathy and negatively affects patient outcomes. Empathy education for students could target empathy as well as burnout with students learning how to moderate their feelings and practice self-care. Future research could explore how empathy education is currently included in the dietetics curriculum and students and educators’ understanding of empathy.
Helen Meyer, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Youn Seon Lim, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Casey Hord, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
148 p.
Nutrition
Clinical empathy; Patient-centered care; Dietetics students; Jefferson Scale of Empathy

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tamsukhin, S. (2022). Measuring Empathy of Undergraduate Dietetics Students at two Southwestern Ohio Universities [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1660815495043794

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tamsukhin, Sara. Measuring Empathy of Undergraduate Dietetics Students at two Southwestern Ohio Universities. 2022. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1660815495043794.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tamsukhin, Sara. "Measuring Empathy of Undergraduate Dietetics Students at two Southwestern Ohio Universities." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1660815495043794

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1660815495043794
344
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.