Does watching a movie improve empathy? A cluster randomized controlled trial

Authors

  • Azin Ahmadzadeh
  • Mehdi Nasr Esfahani
  • Masoud Ahmadzad-Asl
  • Mohammadreza Shalbafan
  • Seyed Vahid Shariat Iran University of Medical Sciences http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5086-7719

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.56979

Abstract

Background: We studied if watching a movie about the patient physician encounter alone or in combination with a communication skills training workshop could improve empathy score of medical students. Methods: One hundred and thirty three medical students participated in one of the following four groups of the study. Group A: a three hour workshop (42 students); group B: watching the movie “The Doctor” (23 students); group C: watching the movie “The Doctor”, then, participating in a three hour workshop the next day (22 students); group D: control group with no intervention (46 students). Participants completed Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE), Student Version to assess empathy score before and after the intervention, and one month later. A linear mixed effect model analyzed the effect of intervention across groups considering the effects of other significant variables. Results: All of the three interventions had an immediate improving effect on empathy scores compared to control group. However, the improvement effect remained significant only in groups A (p=.015) and C (p=.001) one month later. Conclusions: Watching selected movies has a significant but transient effect on empathy of students. Combining two methods of watching the movie and communication skills workshop, seems to add the beneficial effects.

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Published

2019-11-28

How to Cite

1.
Ahmadzadeh A, Nasr Esfahani M, Ahmadzad-Asl M, Shalbafan M, Shariat SV. Does watching a movie improve empathy? A cluster randomized controlled trial. Can. Med. Ed. J [Internet]. 2019 Nov. 28 [cited 2024 Nov. 21];10(4):e4-e12. Available from: https://dev.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/56979

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Section

Original Research