Lingling Kong1, Wencai Li2, Hongmei Wang3, Ning Xu4, Qing Xu5, Li Sun6, Hongying Chen7, Jiangtao Liu8, Yongxia Bi9, Peter Szto10. 1. Department of Applied Psychology, Medical Humanities Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China. 2. Department of Cardiology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Affiliated Qingdao University, Yantai, China. 3. Department of Health Services Research & Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. 4. Nursing Department, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China. 5. Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China. 6. Medical Department, Shandong Energy Zibo Mining Group Co. Ltd. Central Hospital, Zibo, China. 7. Medical Department, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Weihai, China. 8. Department of Internal Medical Oncology, Binzhou Central Hospital, Binzhou, China. 9. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penglai People's Hospital, Yantai, China. 10. Grace Abbott School of Social Work, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA.
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To understand the factors that influence nurses empathy towards patients and to explore its influence on effort-reward imbalance involving empathy. BACKGROUND: Empathy is highly valued in nurse-patient relationships. However, currently, little evidence currently exists on the impact of work-related stress measured by effort-reward imbalance and empathy. DESIGN: An anonymous, cross-sectional online survey using a sample of convenient was conducted. METHODS: Convenient online sampling was conducted with select nurses from seven cities in Shandong province, China. The nurses worked in clinical settings in 10 different hospitals. Two questionnaires, for example the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire and the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, were used. Medians, percentages, related analysis and regression analysis were used to measure the relationship between Effort-Reward Imbalance and empathy levels among nurses in China. In addition, this study adhered to the EQUATOR checklist, STROBE (see Supplementary file 1). RESULTS: Among 1,077 participants, 26.5% stated experiencing an Effort-Reward Imbalance, with a mean empathy score among Chinese nurses, was 109.78 ± 13.98. Multiple regression analysis revealed that females and head nurses had higher levels of empathy, and that those who had no experience learning about empathy-related courses and an Effort-Reward Imbalance ratio were negatively associated with empathy. CONCLUSIONS: Gender, department, position, experience learning about empathy-related courses and Effort-Reward Imbalance ratio were significant elements related to nurses' empathy levels. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: As we all know, empathy can affect the relationship between nurse and patient. If nurses are in an Effort-Reward Imbalance, they may have less empathy. It is advised to improve the reward level of nurses, so that the level of empathy towards patients is enhanced.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To understand the factors that influence nurses empathy towards patients and to explore its influence on effort-reward imbalance involving empathy. BACKGROUND: Empathy is highly valued in nurse-patient relationships. However, currently, little evidence currently exists on the impact of work-related stress measured by effort-reward imbalance and empathy. DESIGN: An anonymous, cross-sectional online survey using a sample of convenient was conducted. METHODS: Convenient online sampling was conducted with select nurses from seven cities in Shandong province, China. The nurses worked in clinical settings in 10 different hospitals. Two questionnaires, for example the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire and the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, were used. Medians, percentages, related analysis and regression analysis were used to measure the relationship between Effort-Reward Imbalance and empathy levels among nurses in China. In addition, this study adhered to the EQUATOR checklist, STROBE (see Supplementary file 1). RESULTS: Among 1,077 participants, 26.5% stated experiencing an Effort-Reward Imbalance, with a mean empathy score among Chinese nurses, was 109.78 ± 13.98. Multiple regression analysis revealed that females and head nurses had higher levels of empathy, and that those who had no experience learning about empathy-related courses and an Effort-Reward Imbalance ratio were negatively associated with empathy. CONCLUSIONS: Gender, department, position, experience learning about empathy-related courses and Effort-Reward Imbalance ratio were significant elements related to nurses' empathy levels. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: As we all know, empathy can affect the relationship between nurse and patient. If nurses are in an Effort-Reward Imbalance, they may have less empathy. It is advised to improve the reward level of nurses, so that the level of empathy towards patients is enhanced.
Authors: Bence Verpeléti; Edina Horváth; Gordana Dobi-Ágoston; Gergely Ágoston; Kitti Bérces; Regina Molnár; Veronika Mátó; Albert Varga; Edit Paulik Journal: J Public Health Res Date: 2021-08-12
Authors: Ludmila Marcinowicz; Ewa Fejfer-Wirbal; Ewa Taranta; Slawomir Chlabicz; Slawomir J Terlikowski Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-04 Impact factor: 3.390