Table 1.
Descriptive analysis of the study sample
| Characteristic | N = 110 | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 22.0 (20.0–23.0) | |
| Gender (women) | 84 (76.4%) | |
| Academic year | ||
| (1st-2nd-3rd) | 41 (37.3%) | |
| (4th–5th-6th) | 69 (62.7%) | |
| Specialty preference (people-oriented) | 80 (72.7%) | |
| Empathy | JSPE | 120.5 (111.2–129.8) |
| IRI-PT (Perspective Taking) | 18.3 (3.9) | |
| IRI-FS (Fantasy Scale) | 18.0 (14.0–23.8) | |
| IRI-EC (Empathic Concern) | 23.0 (20.0–24.0) | |
| IRI-PD (Personal Distress) | 8.0 (5.0–11.0) | |
| EQ (quantitative scale) | 49.0 (41.2–57.0) | |
| EQ (qualitative scale) | ||
| Low (0–32) | 5 (4.5%) | |
| Average (33–52) | 61 (55.5%) | |
| Above average (53–63) | 36 (32.7%) | |
| High (64–80) | 8 (7.3%) | |
| Personality (NEO-FFI) | Openness to experience (O) | 32.1 (6.9) |
| Conscientiousness (C) | 31.6 (7.9) | |
| Extraversion (E) | 31.7 (7.0) | |
| Agreeableness (A) | 30.8 (7.1) | |
| Neuroticism (N) | 23.0 (8.6) | |
| Percentile O | 75.0 (60.0–95.0) | |
| Percentile C | 40.0 (20.0–70.0) | |
| Percentile E | 55.0 (40.0–85.0) | |
| Percentile A | 25.0 (11.2–53.8) | |
| Percentile N | 55.0 (25.0–75.0) | |
Quantitative variables are presented as median and interquartile range, or mean and standard deviation; qualitative variables are presented as number and percentage
JSPE Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, IRI Interpersonal Reactivity Index, EQ Empathy Quotient, NEO-FFI NEO Five-Factor Inventory