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Perspectives on Medical Education
Published in: Perspectives on Medical Education 6/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Original Article

Measurement properties and confirmatory factor analysis of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy in Italian medical students

Authors: Paolo Leombruni, Mariangela Di Lillo, Marco Miniotti, Angelo Picardi, Guido Alessandri, Chiara Sica, Francesca Zizzi, Lorys Castelli, Riccardo Torta

Published in: Perspectives on Medical Education | Issue 6/2014

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Abstract

Medical educators agree that empathy is essential for physicians’ professionalism and most studies on the patient-physician relationship demonstrate that this attitude has a key role in improving clinical outcomes. Literature findings show conflicting views in defining and measuring empathy. Nevertheless, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) is a psychometric tool now widely used. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine psychometrics and confirm factor structure of the Italian version of the JSE in Italian medical students (JSE S-Version). During 2012, 257 second-year Italian medical students completed the JSE S-Version. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the factor structure. The Italian JSE S-Version showed an acceptable internal consistency (r = 0.76) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.72). Confirmatory factor analysis found that the factor structure proposed by the developers of the tool provides an acceptable data fit. In this sample, female medical students showed a higher mean empathy score than did males. The present study provides evidence confirming the structural validity and reliability for the Italian JSE S-Version. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore cross-cultural differences and their implications.
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Metadata
Title
Measurement properties and confirmatory factor analysis of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy in Italian medical students
Authors
Paolo Leombruni
Mariangela Di Lillo
Marco Miniotti
Angelo Picardi
Guido Alessandri
Chiara Sica
Francesca Zizzi
Lorys Castelli
Riccardo Torta
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
Bohn Stafleu van Loghum
Published in
Perspectives on Medical Education / Issue 6/2014
Print ISSN: 2212-2761
Electronic ISSN: 2212-277X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-014-0137-9

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