# The Reliability and Validity of Chinese Version of JSPE‐HP Among Doctors From Primary‐Level Clinics: A Cross‐Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study evaluates the reliability and validity of a Chinese version of a tool to measure empathy in primary care doctors in China.

## Contribution

The study validates a Chinese version of the JSPE-Hp for use in primary-level clinics in China.

## Key findings

- The Chinese version of the JSPE-Hp showed acceptable reliability with a Cronbach's α of 0.85.
- Convergent and discriminant validity were supported by significant Chi-squared differences and average variance extracted values.
- The mean empathy score for doctors was 110.52, indicating room for improvement in empathy levels.

## Abstract

Primary‐level clinics play an important role in providing healthcare services and maintaining citizens' health in China. However, there is limited research on empathy among Chinese doctors in primary care settings. We will translate the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy for physicians and health professional (JSPE‐HP) into Chinese and evaluate its reliability and validity among doctors from primary‐level clinics and the condition of doctor empathy will also be evaluated.

Two research assistants, fluent in both English and Chinese, were invited to evaluate our translation of the JSPE‐HP. From April to July in 2023, a cross‐sectional survey was then administered to a convenience sample of 459 doctors from primary‐level clinics in Zhejiang Province, China. The quality of the scale was tested using internal consistency reliability, composite reliability (CR), and convergent and discriminant validity.

The Chinese version of the JSPE‐HP scale comprises 20 items across three dimensions. The scale had an overall Cronbach's α of 0.85, and the CRs of the three dimensions were 0.88, 0.81 and 0.74 respectively, indicating satisfactory reliability. Average variance extracted ranged from 0.43 to 0.59 and the Chi‐squared difference between the constrained and free models was significant, indicating convergent and discriminant validity. The mean total score for the doctors was 110.52 (SD = 15.80). It was 75.43 after transformation.

The reliability and validity of the scale is acceptable, and it could serve as an evaluation tool for doctors of Chinese background. The empathy level of doctors from primary‐level clinics should be improved further.

The Chinese Version of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE‐HP) exhibited acceptable reliability and validity, thus serving as a suitable evaluation tool for measuring doctor empathy from China.The empathy level of Chinese doctors from the primary‐level clinics should be further improved.

The Chinese Version of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE‐HP) exhibited acceptable reliability and validity, thus serving as a suitable evaluation tool for measuring doctor empathy from China.

The empathy level of Chinese doctors from the primary‐level clinics should be further improved.