Avaliação da associação entre inteligência emocional e empatia nos estudantes de medicina – Estudo Transversal Unicêntrico, Brasil, 2019

Abstract

Emotional intelligence (EI) and empathy are two essential skills for person-centered medicine. Objectives: To evaluate the association between EI and empathy and to assess whether sociodemographic factors and course year influence the level of EI and empathy. Methods: Cross-sectional study among medical students from a private educational institution in the city of São João del Rei, Minas Gerais. EI levels were assessed using the Schutte IE Self-Assessment Test and empathy levels were assessed using the Jefferson Empathy Scale (student version). All volunteers signed the Informed Consent before the inclusion in the study. Descriptive analysis used the mean, standard deviation and frequency distribution, and the comparative analysis used Student's t test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation. Multiple regression analysis was performed with the variables presenting p<0.25. A significance level of 0.05 was considered. Results: From August 5th to 30th, 2019, 193 volunteers, corresponding to 85.8% of the total population, agreed to participate in the study. The IE and empathy scores observed were high. The Managing own emotions domain score (EI) was higher among men (padjusted=0.049) and the Managing others' emotions domain score (EI) was higher among women (padjusted=0.006). The course year positively influenced the total empathy score (padjusted=0.022) and its Compassionate care domain (padjusted=0.004), with scores increasing from the beginning in relation to the middle of the course. This domain was also negatively influenced by the presence of severe illness in the family (padjusted=0.044). Students whose parents were not graduated had a higher total empathy score (padjusted=0.038) and a higher Perspective taking score (padjusted=0.002). Moderate positive correlation was observed between the total EI and empathy scores (ρ=0.304, p<0.001) and between the total empathy score and the Managing others' emotions EI domain (ρ=0.300, p<0.001). A weak positive correlation was also observed between the total IE score and most of the empathy domains. Conclusion: The results indicated a positive association between emotional intelligence and empathy. Sex has influenced two domains of EI: Managing own emotions and Managing others' emotions. Parental schooling, course year, and familiar severe disease influenced empathy