Barbosa CMM, Soares AER, Canuto AMM, Gomes BUM, Rocha GBS, Monteiro LN, Braga BP. The erosion of empathy in medical students: a four-year study at a federal university. Interface (Botucatu). 2026; 30: e250091 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/interface.250091
Abstracts
The fourth stage of this study evaluated empathy among medical students at the Federal University of Alagoas using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSPE-S) was applied annually throughout the course, revealing a progressive decline in student participation and a reduction in average empathy scores. Online virtual focus groups processed using Iramuteq revealed a more objective and selective discourse, with an emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship and the conscious application of empathy. A search was performed in SciELO and PubMed for articles to support the discussion; however, this study does not constitute a formal systematic review. The results showed a continuous decline in student interest and empathy levels. This phenomenon has been observed by previous studies, reinforcing the need for pedagogical strategies that promote empathy during medical training, given its central role in the humanization of care.
Keywords
Empathy; Education; Medicine
Access in: https://doi.org/10.1590/interface.250091
