Relationship between Spiritual Health and Empathy with the Patients in Medical Students

Introduction: Spiritual health and empathy are crucial components of medical education, influencing patient care and the well-being of healthcare providers. This research aimed to investigate the correlation between spiritual health and empathy among medical students and assess the impact of demographic factors on these dimensions. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among medical interns at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences during the ۲۰۲۲–۲۰۲۳ academic year. Data were collected using the Poltzen & Ericsson Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) and the Jefferson Empathy Scale for Students. Demographic information was gathered alongside empathy and spiritual health measurements. Statistical analyses included Pearson’s correlation coefficient, independent t-tests, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, with SPSS ۲۲ used for analysis. Results: The empathy with the patient has a direct and significant relationship with the spiritual health of students (r=۰.۱۷۸, p=۰.۰۴۴). Significant positive correlations were found between spiritual health dimensions and empathy subscales, particularly in "empathetic care" and "putting oneself in the patient’s position". Female students demonstrated significantly higher scores in both empathy and spiritual health. Conclusion: A significant positive relationship between spiritual health and empathy among medical students, emphasizing the need for integrating spiritual well-being programs in medical education to enhance empathetic patient care.

کلیدواژه ها:

empathy ، medical students ، spiritual health ، همدلی با بیمار ، دانشجویان پزشکی کارورز ، سلامت معنوی