Measures of Burnout and Empathy in United States Doctor of Pharmacy Students: Time for a Change?

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2021

Abstract

PURPOSE: To review interim data regarding longitudinal burnout and empathy levels in a single Doctor of Pharmacy class cohort.

METHODS: Students were emailed an electronic survey during their first semester and annually at the end of each academic year for a total of 3 years (2017-2020). Validated survey tools included the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) student version. The JSE survey consists of 20 questions, with higher scores denoting more empathy. The MBI student version contains 3 subscales: exhaustion (higher scores are worse), cynicism (higher scores are worse) and professional efficacy (higher scores are better).

RESULTS: The median JSE score at the end of the third academic year (PY3) was 110, with females scoring significantly higher (114.5 vs. 103.5; p

CONCLUSION: This interim data suggests high degrees of pharmacy student burnout. Empathy levels remained stable throughout the duration of the study. Pharmacy schools may need to focus on reform regarding well-being and prevention of burnout.

Volume

5

Issue

1

First Page

101

Last Page

104

ISSN

1531-1937

Disciplines

Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

34060364

Department(s)

Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Education, Medical Education, Department of Surgery, Department of Surgery Faculty, USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Faculty, Network Office of Research and Innovation

Document Type

Article

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