Assessment of Empathy Levels in Dental Hygiene Students and Interns

Empathy is a crucial element in the practice of dentistry, significantly influencing patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of empathy in healthcare, suggesting that it is essential for effective clinician-patient communication and overall quality of care. Despite its recognized value, there is a concerning trend of declining empathy levels among dental students as they progress through their education. This decline may adversely affect their ability to connect with patients, ultimately impacting the quality of dental care provided.

In Saudi Arabia, research on empathy within dental education remains limited. A study conducted at King Abdulaziz University indicated that while dental students exhibited a sense of moral obligation, their overall empathy scores were lower than anticipated1. Furthermore, factors such as gender and academic year were found to influence empathy levels, with female students generally scoring higher than their male counterparts. Another study from Dammam reported similar findings, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to enhance empathy among dental students and interns.

This proposed cross-sectional study aims to assess empathy levels among dental hygiene students and interns in Saudi Arabia. By utilizing the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students (JSE-HPS), this research will explore how demographic factors such as age, gender, and academic year correlate with empathy scores. The insights gained from this study could inform curriculum development and training programs aimed at fostering empathetic communication skills among future dental professionals.