Objective:

To identify the association between general empathy and medical empathy. Detect predictors of the level of medical empathy from general empathy. To determine the psychosocial profile that describes the relationship between general empathy, medical empathy, and demographic and academic characteristics in medical students.

Method:

Descriptive cross-sectional design. Medical students completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-student version (JSPE-S).

Results:

Relatively high levels of general and medical empathy were detected. The total score of the IRI and the JSPE-S and their dimensions correlated positively (r = 0.14-0.52), except for the dimension personal distress of the IRI. The score of the IRI dimension empathic concern was the best predictor of the JSPE-S score and its dimensions (b = 0.27-0.54). Four profiles were detected: 1) men, preference for technology-oriented specialty, less empathy; 2) pre-clinical period students, less empathy; 3) students of the clinical period, greater empathy; and 4) women, preference for patient-oriented specialty, greater empathy.

Conclusions:

General and medical empathy are associated. Differentiated empathic profiles will allow the design of instructional strategies in empathy according to the specific needs of each one.

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