TECA: adaptation and validation of the Cognitive and Affective Empathy test in health professionals of Cordoba - Colombia

Empathy is a fundamental component in the doctor-patient relationship, considering it as an appreciated attribute in the professional practice of doctors; thus, the existence of instruments that allow its measurement in a valid and reliable manner and that are adapted to the cultural characteristics of the population is indispensable. In this sense, the objective of research was to adapt and validate the cognitive and affective empathy test (TECA) in health professionals from the department of C & oacute;rdobaColombia. Construction validity is limited through confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of 800 participants which yielded a second model of adjustments within the acceptance limits: RMSEA = 0,083, CFI = 0,929 and TLI = 0,919. In addition, it evaluates the frequency through the ordinal alpha coefficient, obtaining satisfactory values for each of the dimensions, with scores ranging from 0,79 and 0,90. Finally, the results of this study conclude that the TECA (Cognitive and Affective Empathy test) is a tool that allows to assess empathy in health professionals in a valid and reliable way.