Unveiling empathy determinants across borders: a comparative analysis of medical students from two geo-sociocultural backgrounds
The determinants of empathy were significantly modulated by the geo-sociocultural context. The personality trait openness to experience was the only consistent determinant of empathy across both sites over time. Associations between empathy and gender, motives for studying medicine, and specialty preferences were site specific. Our findings underscore the importance of considering students' backgrounds when assessing empathy teaching and learning.
Authors
- Lionel Voirol (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1696-1407)
- Mucyo Karemera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1300-605X)
- Margaret W. Gerbase (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5185-7811)
- Anne Baroffio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4453-8083)
- Fernanda Balbinot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5881-5267)
- Stéphane Guerrier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0002-8794)
- Raphaël Feser
Institutions
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Medical Education
- Published
- 2025-04-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07109-7
- Primary Topic
- Empathy and Medical Education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Bundesamt für Gesundheit
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul
- Université de Genève