title: Empathy in Iranian medical students: measurement model of the Jefferson scale of empathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Empathy is an important factor in patient-physician relationship that has beneficial effects in medical practice. Jefferson scale of empathy (JSE) has been specifically designed to assess empathy in health professionals (HP-version) and related students (S-version). Few validation studies have been performed on S-version of the scale.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine empathy in a large sample of Iranian medical students, and also to study factor structure and psychometric properties of the Persian translation of the S-version of the JSE.
  
  
  METHODS
  1187 medical students (759 female) from 16 universities around the country participated in the study during 2009. Independent sample t-test, multivariate analysis of variance, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female students outscored male students in empathy. The trend for empathy had a negative relationship with years of education. JSE showed an acceptable internal consistency and test re-test reliability. CFA upheld the original three-factor structure--Perspective taking, compassionate care, and standing in the patient's shoes--consisting 20 items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease in empathy during medical education is consistent with previous studies. The Persian version of JSE is a valid and reliable measure to tap empathy in a Persian-speaking medical student.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. vshariat@tums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Seyed Vahid
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Shariat
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habibi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011594:Psychometrics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult