Development and validation of the Multidimensional Clinical Empathy Scale for healthcare professionals and students.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Clinical empathy is a crucial skill for healthcare professionals, enhancing patient outcomes, and satisfaction. However, existing scales, such as the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, focus primarily on cognitive empathy, overlooking the affective component. This gap highlights the need for a validated tool that measures both cognitive and affective empathy in healthcare professionals. This study developed and validated a multidimensional scale-the Multidimensional Clinical Empathy Scale-for assessing both cognitive and affective empathy in healthcare professionals and students.

Methods

This three-phase study involved item generation, reduction, and validation, using literature reviews, qualitative studies, and survey methodologies. Exploratory factor analysis and confi

SUBMITTER: Tan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12394879 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature