CAN THE HEART BE A PREDICTOR OF SPECIALTY CHOICE? VICARIOUS EMPATHY VS. SPECIALTY CHOICE.

Bruce W. Newton*, James Clardy, Laurie Barber and Elton Cleveland, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, 72205 U.S.A.

PURPOSE: Some students interviewing for medical school say they desire primary care to curry favor with the admissions committee. Many students change their minds by graduation. How many students honor their initial commitment and does their vicarious empathy change?

METHODS: The Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES) was given to UAMS classes of 2001-2004 (n = 421). Specialty choice was obtained. Specialties were divided into “core” (i.e., primary care) and “non-core”. Core specialties have continuity of patient care. The BEES score, obtained during freshmen (M1) orientation, was compared to M1 specialty choice and senior BEES score and residency acceptance.

RESULTS: 124/273 M1 men (45.4%) indicated a core specialty; 87/124 (70.2%) entered a core residency and 47/87 (37.9%) honored the same M1 choice. 37/124 M1 men (29.8%) switched and entered non-core residencies. 106/148 M1 women (71.6%) indicted a core specialty; 79/106 (74.5%) entered a core residency and 30/79 (38%) honored the same M1 choice. 27/106 M1 women (25.5%) switched and entered non-core residencies. Men entering core residencies dropped BEES scores by 21.1%. Men switching from an M1 core choice to enter non-core residencies dropped 41.9%. Women entering core residencies dropped BEES scores by 15.4%. Women switching from an M1 core choice to enter non-core residencies dropped 31.6%.

CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 3/4 of entering freshmen who said would enter a core residency did so. The drop in BEES scores is twice as great for those that switched to non-core residencies. Graduates entering core residencies maintain vicarious empathy better than those entering non-core residencies.