Abstract

BULLEN, Miriam; SALAZAR, Lupe  and  DIAZ NARVAEZ, Víctor Patricio. Empathic orientation of dental students from the University of Panama (Republic of Panama). Salud, Barranquilla [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.2, pp.266-275. ISSN 0120-5552.

Objective: To determine the level of empathic orientation of students of first year through fifth year of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Panama. Materials and methods: Observational descriptive cross-sectional study. Operational definition of the variable was made through the score obtained by the students in the Jefferson’s Physician Empathy Scale. The Universe and sample were the students from 1st to 5th year of the undergraduate program of Doctor in Dental Surgery. Results: None of the factors was more significant than the other. No significant differences were observed in the interaction between Course and Gender. The results reflect that the levels of empathic orientation remain the same between the courses and genders. However, the multiple comparisons test of means used, allowed us to detect that there are, in fact, differences between the courses. Conclusions: There are differences in empathic orientation between courses. In the last two years of the undergraduate studies, such orientation decreased. Women have higher levels of empathic orientation in absolute terms; the highest level of empathic orientation was detected in the 3rd year group.

Keywords : empathy; professional competence; curriculum; students; dentistry.

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