Factors related to the Pharmacy students’ empathy towards geriatrics: A qualitative study on educators and practitioners

Background: Empathy is an essential component of professionalism in the healthcare field, particularly for professionals such as pharmacists who directly interact with patients. In addition, healthcare students, including pharmacy students, must possess empathy, which is crucial for their professional development. Objective: This study aimed to investigate factors that are related to pharmacy students’ empathy towards geriatrics. Method: This study was a qualitative study that included educators and practitioners in one-on-one interviews using Internet video conferencing. This study was carried out between October 2022 and February 2023. The verbatim transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis to identify codes, which resulted in the generation of themes from the data. Result: Out of the 16 participants, eight were educators, and the other were practitioners. The study revealed five distinct themes, including educational environment, familial environment, advances in technology, interaction with peers, and personal factors. Conclusion: Factors such as educational environment, familial environment, technological advancements, interaction with peers, and personal factors influence empathy among pharmacy students. Institutions might consider all these factors when developing programs that cultivate a greater sense of empathy among students for the elderly.