Azam Mirzaei Maghsud1, Farrokh Abazari2, Sakineh Miri3, Monir Sadat Nematollahi2. 1. Clinical and research nurse, Shahid Bahonar Hospital, Kerman, Iran; MSc in Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. 2. Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Department of Community Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. 3. Nursing Instructor, Faculty of Nursing, Department of Community Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Empathy is an essential condition for effective nursing care. An empathetic relationship between the nurse and the patient leads to positive therapeutic outcomes, increases nurses' adjustment in educational and therapeutic environments and influences their ethical sensitivities. AIMS: The current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of empathy training on the empathy skills of nurses working in intensive care units of Shahid Bahonar Hospital in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: This experimental study was conducted on nurses working in intensive care units of Shahid Bahonar Hospital affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in Iran. All nurses working in intensive care units of Shahid Bahonar Hospital were selected by randomised sampling. Data were collected by the Davis Empathy Scale (possible range 0-105) and analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Comparison of the mean empathy scores showed the mean scores of empathy skills in the control group were 63.45 ± 8.102 and 63.54 ± 8.05 in the pre- and post-test, respectively, which was not significantly different. But the mean scores of empathy skills in the Experimental group were 63.40 ± 8.136 and 67.7 ± 9.027 in the pre- and post-test, respectively, which showed a significant increase (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present intervention showed the effectiveness of empathy training on the empathy skills of nurses. Empathy can be acquired and learned.
BACKGROUND: Empathy is an essential condition for effective nursing care. An empathetic relationship between the nurse and the patient leads to positive therapeutic outcomes, increases nurses' adjustment in educational and therapeutic environments and influences their ethical sensitivities. AIMS: The current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of empathy training on the empathy skills of nurses working in intensive care units of Shahid Bahonar Hospital in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: This experimental study was conducted on nurses working in intensive care units of Shahid Bahonar Hospital affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in Iran. All nurses working in intensive care units of Shahid Bahonar Hospital were selected by randomised sampling. Data were collected by the Davis Empathy Scale (possible range 0-105) and analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Comparison of the mean empathy scores showed the mean scores of empathy skills in the control group were 63.45 ± 8.102 and 63.54 ± 8.05 in the pre- and post-test, respectively, which was not significantly different. But the mean scores of empathy skills in the Experimental group were 63.40 ± 8.136 and 67.7 ± 9.027 in the pre- and post-test, respectively, which showed a significant increase (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present intervention showed the effectiveness of empathy training on the empathy skills of nurses. Empathy can be acquired and learned.