“An Exploration of Empathy Among Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Students at Arabic Universitiesرسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Introduction: Empathy plays a vital role in occupational therapy. It enables occupational therapists (OTs) to establish a client-centered understanding of their patients and pursue meaningful occupational and therapeutic goals tailored to each individual. However, the assumption that occupational therapy students naturally possess the empathic capacity required for effective client-centered practice is unfounded. Hence, it becomes imperative to cultivate and instill empathy among undergraduate OT students before the commencement of clinical work to safeguard against potential impediments in their professional development. Despite the importance of empathy in occupational therapy, there is a conspicuous lack of evidence concerning empathy and attitudes toward patients among undergraduate OT students in Arabic Universities. Thus, this study aimed to explore the level of empathy and identify associated factors among undergraduate OT students at Arabic Universities. Method: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted, with a sample of 219 undergraduate occupational therapy students from various Arabic Universities. The level of empathy was assessed using an electronic questionnaire that included the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-Health Profession Students' Version (JSPE-HPS), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and a short set of demographic questions. Results: A satisfactory level of empathy was found on all dimensions of the IRI 94.75 (11.62). The JSPE-HPS-S 109 (102-114). The study's findings revealed that females exhibited more empathy than males. Although the JSPE-HPS-S scores showed no VI significant gender differences with mean scores of 110 (102-115) and 104(97-112) for females and males respectively, the IRI scores indicated that females had significantly higher empathy levels than males mean scores of 96.24(11.20) and 89.57(11.70) for females and males, respectively (p=00.0). Conclusion: Advancing the understanding of empathy in occupational therapy education is crucial. This progress will help cultivate empathetic and culturally competent occupational therapy practitioners, ultimately enhancing the quality of care and overall well-being of diverse populations.