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The Devil is in the Third Year: A Longitudinal Study of Erosion of Empathy in Medical School

Academic Medicine · 2009 · Vol. 84(9) · pp. 1182–1191

Mohammadreza Hojat✉(Jefferson College)Michael J. Vergare(Jefferson College)Kaye Maxwell(Jefferson College)George C. Brainard(Jefferson College)Steven K. Herrine(Jefferson College)Gerald A. Isenberg(Jefferson College)J. Jon Veloski(Jefferson College)Joseph S. Gonnella(Jefferson College)

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Abstract

It is concluded that a significant decline in empathy occurs during the third year of medical school. It is ironic that the erosion of empathy occurs during a time when the curriculum is shifting toward patient-care activities; this is when empathy is most essential. Implications for retaining and enhancing empathy are discussed.

Empathy and Medical Education Innovations in Medical Education Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnoutEmpathyCohortGraduation (instrument)PsychologyMedical schoolTest (biology)Clinical psychologyLongitudinal studyMedicinePsychiatry

MeSH terms

Attitude of Health PersonnelEducation, Medical, UndergraduateEducational MeasurementEmpathyFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleBrief Psychiatric Rating ScalePhysician-Patient RelationsProfessional CompetenceSex Factors

Citations

1,610

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25.46

field-weighted impact

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100%

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Cited by

Teaching Empathy to Medical Students