Measure of empathy change in pharmacy students through a behaviour change assignment

Authors

  • Michelle DeGeeter Wingate University School of Pharmacy, North Carolina

Keywords:

Behaviour Change, Empathy, Pharmacy Student

Abstract

Background: Current standards for pharmacy education include developing skills in empathy as a part of curriculum.

Aims: The primary purpose of this research was to assess whether a behaviour change assignment resulted in increased empathy in pharmacy students as evaluated by a validated empathy scoring system.

Methods: Pharmacy students completed a pre-assessment utilising the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Scale. Students were then given a behaviour change assignment where each student chose a personal behaviour to change for a ten days followed by a post-assessment utilising the same tool.

Results: Pharmacy students achieved a statistically significant improvement in empathy score after completing the behaviour change assignment (p<0.011) with a response rate of 81.3%. Age, gender, campus, or nature of the behaviour change did not predict results.

Conclusions: A behaviour change assignment that utilised minimal classroom time and resources without relation to a specific disease state resulted in increased empathy in pharmacy students. 

Author Biography

Michelle DeGeeter, Wingate University School of Pharmacy, North Carolina

Assistant Professor of Pharmacy

References

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Published

14-01-2016

How to Cite

DeGeeter, M. (2016). Measure of empathy change in pharmacy students through a behaviour change assignment. Pharmacy Education, 16. Retrieved from https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/433

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Section

Research Article