Empathy levels and their correlates among medical students at a private college in Karachi: a cross-sectional study

Background: We aimed to measure empathy using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy–Student version (JSE-S) among undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students at a private medical college in Karachi and to assess its association with sex, academic year and preferred future specialty. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey at Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College, Karachi, during November 2024 and January 2025. We approached 343 students and, after JSE-S and demographic assessment, included 304 in the final analysis. Using multivariable linear regression, we estimated adjusted associations between JSE-S scores and sex, academic year and specialty preference. Results: The mean JSE-S score was 104.8 (SD 12.3). After adjusting for academic year and specialty preference, female students scored 5.5 points higher than male students on the JSE-S (adjusted β=5.5; 95% CI 2.9 to 8.1; p<0.001). In the adjusted model, Year 2 students scored 6.1 points lower than Year 5 students (adjusted β=−6.1; 95% CI −10.2 to −2.0; p=0.004). Students' specialty preference showed no meaningful association with JSE-S scores (F=1.21; p=0.298). Conclusions: Among undergraduate medical students at a private medical college in Karachi, female students scored higher than male students and Year 5 students scored higher than Year 2 students, on self-reported JSE-S empathy; preferred future specialty showed no comparable association.