CASPer Core Competency 3: Empathy
Often touted as the most important attribute a healthcare professional can have, empathy should be seen as distinct from sympathy, and compassion. It is the ability to put yourself in the place of another, and to understand what they feel and why they might feel it. With empathy comes the ability to communicate well, and to show to patients that you care about them, their treatment and their opinions. You should reflect on how you have shown empathy in both your day to day life and through volunteering or healthcare roles that you have already undertaken.
CASPer Core Competency 4: Equity
Perhaps the most nebulous of the competencies, equity is a concept distinct from equality. Equality is the idea of treating everyone the same, no matter their need. Equity on the other hand involves treating other people differently, dependent on their need, in order to achieve equivalence between people. This can be thought of for the CASPer test as an invitation to consider diversity, think about working to help those from less fortunate positions in society, and to understand one’s own privilege.
CASPer Core Competency 5: Ethics
Ethics are moral principles that govern behaviour or conduct. In the context of CASPer, you should consider both your own personal ethics and the ethics of the professional body which you are hoping to one day join. If you are applying to Medicine, for example, ensure that you are well versed on medical ethics, and that you are able to consider ethical quandaries in the nuanced manner that would be expected of a future doctor. Read professional guidance to ensure that your ethical principles are aligned with those of the profession.