Film-Based Medical Education and Social Justice Course: Effects on Alexithymia and Empathy in Med… (NCT07399366) | Clinical Trial Compass
By InvitationNot Applicable
Film-Based Medical Education and Social Justice Course: Effects on Alexithymia and Empathy in Medical Students
Turkey (Türkiye)60 participantsStarted 2026-02-16
Plain-language summary
This study will examine whether a 14-week elective course that uses films and guided discussion on social justice in health care can improve medical students' empathy skills and reduce alexithymia (difficulty recognizing and describing emotions). Approximately 50 volunteer medical students will participate. Students who choose the elective course will form the intervention group, and students who do not take the course will form a comparison group. All participants will complete the same questionnaires/assessments at the beginning and at the end of the semester. The main goal is to compare changes in empathy and alexithymia scores between the two groups.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Enrolled medical student at Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, registered in Year 1, 2, or 3 during the study period.
* Age 18 years or older.
* Provides written/electronic informed consent after being informed about the study.
* For the intervention arm: enrolled in the elective "Film-Based Medical Education and Social Justice" course.
* For the control arm: from the same academic year/cohort during the same period and not enrolled in the elective course.
* Willing and able to complete both baseline (T0) and end-of-course (T1) assessments (has sufficient cognitive/communication ability to complete questionnaires).
Exclusion Criteria:
* Does not provide consent or withdraws consent at any stage.
* Younger than 18 years.
* Does not complete at least one of the two assessments (T0 or T1).
* Leaves critical sections of the questionnaires/assessments largely blank (e.g., substantial missing items on TAS-20 or incomplete scenario responses preventing scoring).
* Duplicate/duplicate submission (more than one form from the same participant for the same assessment).
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) Total and Subscale Scores (Change)
Timeframe: Baseline (T0) and end of course (T1, approximately 14 weeks)
2
Scenario-Based Empathy Skills Total Score and Rubric Subscores (Change)
Timeframe: Baseline (T0) and end of course (T1, approximately 14 weeks)
3
Jefferson Scale of Empathy S(tudent)-Version
Timeframe: Baseline (T0) and end of course (T1, approximately 14 weeks)