Empathy In Nurses Research Articles

The Mediating Role of Compassion in the Relationship Between Nurses' Ethnocultural Empathy and Cultural Sensitivity: Structural Equation Model Analysis.

Nurses must possess the capacity for compassionate care and exhibit empathy to promote culturally competent care. This research investigated the mediating role of compassion in the relationship between ethnocultural empathy and intercultural sensitivity among nurses. The study was conducted at a hospital that provides health care services to refugees. In total, 125 nurses were recruited through the simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a personal form and three scales. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS23 and AMOS24. Nurses' cultural sensitivity positively influenced their compassion competence and ethnocultural empathy. Compassion competence did not function as a full mediator in the relationship between intercultural sensitivity and ethnocultural empathy. This study revealed that exposure to different cultures contributed to compassion competence, ethnocultural empathy, and cultural sensitivity skills in nurses. Cultural competence is a critical component of nursing care; therefore, it should be developed through curriculum revisions and a sensitive and supportive discussion of experiences.

Exploring the bidirectional relationship between job burnout and empathy in nurses: A longitudinal study

ObjectivesThis study explored the bidirectional relationship between job burnout and empathy among Chinese nurses. MethodsA nurse cohort was assessed longitudinally in 2020 (T1) and 2022 (T2). Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)–Human Services Survey and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy–Health Professionals. ResultsOut of the 1090 nurses who participated in both assessments, 551 (50.6 %) exhibited job burnout. Nurses with no burnout, discontinued burnout, and newly developed burnout groups had higher levels of empathy than the persistent burnout group. There is a bidirectional negative association between empathy and job burnout, particularly in the depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. Notably, empathy did not predict the emotional exhaustion from burnout, but heightened emotional exhaustion predicted diminished empathy. ConclusionThe findings suggest a significant bidirectional negative association between empathy and job burnout, especially in depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. Notably, nurses without burnout, discontinued burnout, and newly developed burnout exhibited higher levels of empathy, emphasizing the potential impact of addressing and mitigating burnout on fostering empathetic behavior. Practice ImplicationsInterventions targeting both burnout and empathy are vital for nurses. Recognizing and addressing burnout can positively impact fostering empathetic behavior in nursing practice.

Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious posttraumatic growth in oncology nurses: the mediating role of empathy.

The relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS), empathy, and vicarious post-traumatic growth (VPTG) in oncology nurses is unclear. Understanding these links is crucial for improving nurse well-being and patient care quality. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between STS, empathy, and VPTG among oncology nurses. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a multicentric setting. Data collection involved oncology nurses completing questionnaires assessing STS, empathy, and VPTG levels. Data analysis included correlation analyses, multiple stepwise regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the interrelationships between these variables. The study adhered to the STROBE checklist. A total of 391 oncology nurses participated in the study. They showed moderate to low levels of VPTG and high levels of STS. STS exhibited a negative association with VPTG, while empathy demonstrated a positive direct association with both VPTG and STS. Moreover, SEM indicated that empathy mediated the relationship between STS and VPTG, with a partial mediating effect of 0.127. Factors such as receiving psychological training, educational attainment, STS, and empathy collectively explained 24% of the variance in VPTG. Our findings highlighted the negative correlation between STS and VPTG among oncology nurses. Additionally, empathy was found to mediate the relationship between STS and VPTG, suggesting it plays a significant role in influencing VPTG. To aid oncology nurses, interventions should focus on reducing STS and enhancing empathy. Strategies like resilience workshops, peer support, and stress management can foster VPTG. Creating a supportive work environment is crucial for nurses' well-being and quality patient care.

Latent profile analysis of empathy ability and its relationship with professional quality of life among hospice nurses in China

BackgroundEmpathy is important in hospice nursing clinics and may influence nurses’ professional quality of life (ProQOL). However, present studies ignoring each empathic dimension, and few researches have explored the correlation between empathy and ProQOL in hospice nurses in Asia. To better understand hospice nurses’ empathy abilities in China and its relationship with ProQOL, the aim of this study was to identify the latent profiles and its influencing factors of hospice nurses’ empathy ability, as well as differences in ProQOL across each latent profile.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to September 2022, and a total of 725 hospice nurses were recruited from different geographic regions in China. Participants completed the Empathy Ability Scale for Hospice Nurses and the Brief Professional Quality of Life Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to identify latent profiles of empathy ability among hospice nurses in China. The predictors of hospice nurses’ empathy ability in different latent profiles were assessed using multinomial logistic regression analysis. One-way ANOVA test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used to compare the ProQOL scores in each latent profile of nurses’ empathy ability.ResultsThis study identified three latent profiles of hospice nurses’ empathy ability, and those profiles labelled “poor empathy ability-high surface empathy expression” (n = 216, 29.8%), “moderate empathy ability” (n = 359, 49.5%) and “high empathy ability-high deep empathy expression” (n = 150, 20.7%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis suggested that age, hospital level, whether income meets expectations, interests in hospice care work, hospice work experience, and receiving psychological counselling were predictors of hospice nurses’ profile membership of empathy ability. The scores of compassion satisfaction (CS) and burnout (BO) in ProQOL were significantly different across each profile (P < 0.001), while scores of secondary traumatic stress (STS) in ProQOL were not different across each profile (P = 0.294).ConclusionsHospice nurses’ empathy ability was divided into three latent profiles, and enhancing empathy ability may be conducive to improving hospice nurses’ CS, while reducing BO, thus fostering their overall quality of life. Nursing managers should identify hospice nurses at higher risk of BO and implement targeted interventions focused on enhancing nurse’s empathy abilities.

Mediating role of self-compassion in relationship between attachment styles and empathy in nurses

IntroductionEmpathy with the patient is one of the important factors in nursing care. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between attachment styles and empathy in nurses.Materials and methodsThis correlational study was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) method. The statistical population included nurses working at public hospitals in Yazd City, Iran. A total of 308 nurses were selected by convenience sampling method. The data were collected using self-compassion scale, adult attachment styles scale, Jefferson scale of empathy and analyzed using structural equation analysis in AMOS software.ResultsSecure and anxious/ambivalent insecure attachment styles were positively and negatively correlated with empathy, respectively (p < .01). The path coefficient between avoidant and anxious/ambivalent insecure attachment styles and self-compassion was negative. On the contrary, the path coefficient between secure attachment style and self-compassion was positive. There was a positive correlation between self-compassion and empathy. The indirect path coefficient of secure and anxious/ambivalent insecure attachment styles to empathy through self-compassion. was significant (p < .01).ConclusionThe results showed secure and anxious/ambivalent insecure attachment could directly and indirectly through influencing self-compassion predict empathy in nurses.

Attachment styles and empathy in trainee nurses: the mediating and moderating roles of attitudes toward death.

A growing body of evidence has shown that attachment styles and death attitudes have a significant impact on empathy. This study aimed to explore the precise role of death attitudes in the relationship between attachment styles and empathy levels among trainee nurses. A total of 626 Chinese trainee nurses with different attachment types were enrolled, and their attachment styles, death attitudes, and empathy levels were assessed using the Revised Adult Attachment Scale, the Death Attitude Profile-Revised, and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Healthy Professionals, and finally, data from 566 participants were included for statistical analysis. We found that among trainee nurses with secure attachment type, fear of death, approach acceptance, escape acceptance, and neutral acceptance (-) mediated the relationships between attachment-related avoidance/anxiety and their overall empathy levels and all its dimensions; in the preoccupied type, only neutral acceptance (-) mediated the relationships between attachment-related avoidance and their overall empathy levels and compassionate care; and in the fearful type, only fear of death mediated the relationship between attachment-related avoidance and compassionate care. Furthermore, in the secure type, neutral acceptance attenuated the negative predictions of attachment-related avoidance on overall empathy level and perspective taking. Attitudes toward death played different mediating and moderating roles in the relationship between attachment styles and empathy among trainee nurses with different attachment types. In addition to acculturated empathy-specific training, targeted education related to death for trainee nurses with different attachment types is needed to prevent their compassion fatigue.

EVALUATION OF EMPATHY IN NURSING STUDENTS

RESUMO Objetivo: comparar os níveis de empatia entre estudantes de enfermagem em diferentes estágios da graduação, considerando gênero e idade. Método: estudo conduzido na Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, com abordagem quantitativa, descritiva, comparativa e transversal. A amostra incluiu 169 alunos dos quatro anos de graduação em Enfermagem. Utilizou-se um questionário sociodemográfico para coletar informações no período de agosto de 2020 a abril de 2022 e a Escala Multidimensional de Reatividade Interpessoal para mensurar empatia. As relações entre empatia e variáveis independentes foram analisadas, utilizando modelos lineares e apresentados com médias estimadas, intervalos de confiança e valores-p, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: a comparação dos níveis de empatia em diferentes períodos da graduação não revelou relações significativas com o ano de graduação. No entanto, o menor escore nas três subescalas ocorreu no quarto ano. Ao analisar a relação entre anos de graduação e gênero, nenhuma subescala apresentou diferenças significativas. Ao separar por ano de graduação, a diferença significativa na subescala Consideração Empática surgiu no segundo ano, com escores mais altos para o gênero feminino. Conclusão: o estudo destaca a importância contínua do ensino de empatia na formação em enfermagem. Assim, a utilização da Escala Multidimensional de Reatividade Interpessoal se mostra valiosa para avaliar intervenções e oferecer subsídios para ajustes nas estratégias educacionais. O compromisso com o aprimoramento da empatia ao longo da formação e prática profissional é essencial para garantir uma assistência de saúde verdadeiramente centrada no paciente.

Effect of empathy competence on moral sensitivity in Chinese student nurses: the mediating role of emotional intelligence

BackgroundEthical issues may pose challenges to nursing students entering clinical practice. Moral sensitivity can assist them in recognising existing moral situations and then taking adequate action. Identifying the variables associated with moral sensitivity may be useful in preparing to improve nursing students' moral sensitivity.ObjectivesThis study investigated empathy, emotional intelligence, and moral sensitivity in Chinese student nurses to explore the association among these three factors and to verify the mediating function of emotional intelligence in determining the connection between empathy and moral sensitivity.DesignThis study used a cross-sectional correlational design.Setting and participantsThrough convenience sampling, 239 fourth-year nursing undergraduates at a university in Western China were enrolled in this study.MethodsNursing students who volunteered to participate in the study completed self-reported scales on empathy, emotional intelligence, and moral sensitivity between September and October 2022. The potential mediating effect was explored using the Process Macro and bootstrap method.ResultsThe nursing students' average scores were 39.62 ± 5.27 on moral sensitivity, 108.21 ± 15.49 on empathy, and 124.41 ± 13.66 on EI. Moral sensitivity was positively correlated with emotional intelligence (r = 0.454, p < 0.001) and empathy (r = 0.545, p < 0.001). Furthermore, empathy exerted a substantial direct effect on nursing students' moral sensitivity (B = 0.1424, p < 0.001). Emotional intelligence could mediate the indirect path from empathy to moral sensitivity. (B = 0.0372, p < 0.001).ConclusionEmotional intelligence mediated the association between empathy and moral sensitivity. Thus, educational activities and programmes placing an emphasis on empathy and emotional intelligence may offer an alternative way to promote moral sensitivity in Chinese student nurses.ImplicationsNursing educators can organise programmes to improve nursing students' emotional competence and professional values. Early exposure to clinical practice benefits nursing students a lot in terms of building interactions with patients and increasing emotional resonance. In addition, nursing educators should develop situational teaching in nursing ethics courses to help students cope with ethical issues.

Developing Empathy in Emergency Nurses Using Hearing Voices Simulation.

Background: Many health professionals report feeling uncomfortable talking with patients who hear voices. Patients who hear voices report feeling a lack of support and empathy from emergency nurses. A local emergency department reported a need for training for nurses in the care of behavioral health patients. Objective: The aim of this study is to implement a quality improvement project using a hearing voices simulation. Empathy was measured using the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, and a post-intervention survey was used to evaluate emergency nurses' perception of the professional development session. Methods: The quality improvement project included the implementation of a hearing voices simulation with emergency nurses. A paired t-test was used to determine the differences in the nurses empathy levels pre-and post-simulation. Qualitative data was collected on the nurses' experience during the simulation debriefing. A Likert-style questionnaire was used to collect data on the nurses' evaluation of the simulation. Results: The results of the hearing voices simulation were a statistically significant increase (p < .00) in empathy from baseline (M = 47.95, SD = 6.55) to post-intervention empathy scores (M = 48.93, SD = 6.89). The results of the post-simulation survey indicated that nurses felt that the hearing voices simulation was useful (n = 100; 98%) and helped them to feel more empathetic toward patients who hear voices (n = 98; 96%). Conclusions: Using a hearing voices simulation may help emergency nurses feel more empathetic toward the behavioral health patients who hear voices. Implications for Nursing: Through the implementation of a hearing voices simulation, clinical staff educators can provide support to staff nurses in the care of behavioral health patients.

The Impact of Nurse Empathy in Hospitals Nursing Services

Background: Complaints about nursing services because some nurses do not care, lack communication with patients, and are indifferent to patients, this is because nurses are not empathetic, so empathy is needed in current nursing actions to improve the quality of nursing services, the outcome of which is patient satisfaction.Objective: This article aims to determine the impact of empathy on nursing services in hospitals. Methods: The literature search used keywords “empathy” OR “nurse” or “nursing service” OR “hospital”. With systematic review analysis and meta Analyzes for scoping review (PRISMA -SR).Results: After screening consisting of 6 articles which summarized the impact Empathy is very important in improving nursing services, it was found that there were 3 impacts of empathy, namely: (1) increasing the therapeutic relationship between nurse-patient obtained from 3 articles, (2) increasing patient satisfaction obtained from 2 articles (3) reduce the psychological impact of the patient 1 article. Conclusion: There are 3 impacts of empathy consisting of (1) Increasing the therapeutic relationship between nurse-client. (2) Increasing patient satisfaction (3) Reducing the psychological impact of the patient

Validity and reliability evaluation of the Turkish version of the Clinical Interpersonal Reactivity Index.

This study was conducted to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Clinical Interpersonal Reactivity Index, an instrument to assess nurses' empathy. A practical empathic approach is valuable for planning nursing interventions suitable for the patient's conditions and needs and increasing patient satisfaction. This is a methodological study. The study was carried out at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Training and Research Hospital, recruiting a total of 358 nurses between January and February 2023. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to determine and validate the factor structure of the Clinical Interpersonal Reactivity Index. The exploratory factor analysis extracted three factors. According to the confirmatory factor analysis, all goodness of fit measures were within acceptable limits. Cronbach's α values were 0.89 for the total scale with 17 items and between 0.73 and 0.81 for the factors. In test-retest analyses, all intra-class correlation coefficients were higher than 0.7, and the correlations between the first and second applications of the scale were between 0.61 and 0.73. The Turkish version of the Clinical Interpersonal Reactivity Index can be applied as a valid and reliable measurement tool to evaluate empathy in Turkish nurses.

A empatia dos enfermeiros com os pacientes em hospitais públicos

Objective: to determine the levels of empathy in professional nurses of a high-complexity hospital, to relate age to empathy (and each one of its dimensions), and to establish if there are differences between these levels according to the type of working schedules. Method: comparative, correlational and cross-sectional design. The sample used (n=271) constituted 40.9% of the total number of nursing professionals. Psychometric properties of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Health Professionals were studied. Descriptive statistics were calculated: mean and standard deviation. The association between empathy and age was estimated using regression equations and statistical significance of the regression coefficients, after evaluating the type of curve using variance analysis. Results: the underlying model of three dimensions of empathy was identified. The values of the descriptive statistics observed were relatively low in empathy and its dimensions. Empathy levels were not associated with the age range. No differences in empathy were found between the types of work schedules. Variability was found in the dimensions: “compassionate care” and “Walking on the patient’s shoes”. Conclusion: these results show that the levels of empathy observed may imply a deficient performance in empathetic care for patients.

Working nurses' empathy with patients in public hospitals.

to determine the levels of empathy in professional nurses of a high-complexity hospital, to relate age to empathy (and each one of its dimensions), and to establish if there are differences between these levels according to the type of working schedules. comparative, correlational and cross-sectional design. The sample used (n=271) constituted 40.9% of the total number of nursing professionals. Psychometric properties of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Health Professionals were studied. Descriptive statistics were calculated: mean and standard deviation. The association between empathy and age was estimated using regression equations and statistical significance of the regression coefficients, after evaluating the type of curve using variance analysis. the underlying model of three dimensions of empathy was identified. The values of the descriptive statistics observed were relatively low in empathy and its dimensions. Empathy levels were not associated with the age range. No differences in empathy were found between the types of work schedules. Variability was found in the dimensions: "compassionate care" and "Walking on the patient's shoes". these results show that the levels of empathy observed may imply a deficient performance in empathetic care for patients. (1) The levels of empathy are low in the nursing professionals studied. (2) These levels are not associated with age and type of work performed. (3) Low levels of empathy could imply a negative alteration of humanized attention.

The Impact of Psychiatric Care Program on Empathy of Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses in Iran.

The main role of nurses is not only to inform about the disease and treatment of the patient but also to establish an effective therapeutic relationship to address concerns and provide empathy, comfort, and support. This issue is very prominent in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and doubles the importance of empathetic communication between nurses and parents and promoting empathy skills in nurses working in neonatal intensive care units. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a support program on the empathy of neonatal intensive care nurses across the Iran. This study was conducted in 2021 as a semi-experimental intervention in a group of 166 nurses working in the neonatal department all over Iran who met the inclusion criteria. Jefferson's empathy questionnaire was completed electronically by the participants before and after the online education program start. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (V 24.0). The empathy score of nurses was 60.31 ± 5.76 before and 66.47 ±6.60 after the intervention. The empathy scores of nurses after the intervention increased statistically significantly. Nurses can communicate empathically with parents by training their verbal and nonverbal communication skills and gaining a common understanding of the feelings of parents of premature infants.

Assessment of Compassion Fatigue and Empathy Levels in Nurses During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Turkey's Case.

This study was conducted to determine the compassion fatigue level of nurses andto review several variables believed to be associated with it; in addition, an assessment is made of empathy levels in the same group. This is a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2021 to May 2022 on nurses working at a city hospital linked to the Turkish Ministry of Health. The study group consisted of 616 nurses. A Personal Information Form, the Compassion Fatigue-Short Scale (CF-SS), and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy were used to collect data. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Student's t-test, One-Way Analysis of Variance, and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis were used for data analysis. The statistical significance value was accepted as p < 0.05. The study group consisted of 499 (81.0%) females and 117 (19.0%) males, and their ages ranged from 20 to 51, with a mean age of 29.2 ± 6.9years. The scores obtained from the CF-SS ranged from 16 to 130, with a mean score of 70.96 ± 25.04. The level of compassion fatigue was found to be higher in participants with a low family income, those who work more than 40h a week, those who chose their profession unwillingly, those who are not satisfied with their profession, and those with a history of contact with a COVID-19 patient (p < 0.05 for each group). There was a significant association between levels of compassion fatigue and empathy (r = 0.92; p = 0.220). The level of compassion fatigue was found to be moderate in the nurses observed. The factors affecting the level of compassion fatigue included gender, family income, reasons for choosing nursing as a profession, the number of patients given daily care by the nurses, satisfaction with their profession, and history of contact with a COVID-19 patient. More extensive studies focusing on the association between compassion fatigue and empathy in nurses are needed.

Predicting Moral Reasoning With Spiritual Well-being and Personality: The Mediating Role of Empathy in Physicians and Nurses

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has created many problems. This paper aims to predict moral reasoning through spiritual health and personality via the mediating role of empathy in physicians and nurses. Methods: The current research is a cross-sectional analysis conducted on 320 physicians and nurses working in hospitals’ COVID-19 wards. We used the available sampling method, and the research tools included the brief form of personality inventory for The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (Krueger et al. 2012), the spiritual well-being scale (Dehshiri 2009), the defining issue test-2 (Rest et al. 1986), and the interpersonal reactivity index (Davis 1983). Results: The results of the current investigation indicated that spiritual well-being has a positive and significant effect on empathy (P&lt;0.0001, β=0.236). Empathy has a positive and significant correlation with moral reasoning (P=0.032, β=0.117). And finally, the moral reasoning variable in the current model was calculated at 0.019. Conclusion: The current study shows that empathy can predict moral reasoning. Meanwhile, understanding the feelings of others can be more useful in judgment and decision-making. In addition, spiritual health can play an important role in empathy.

Effectiveness of Psychological First Aid E-learning on the Competence and Empathy of Nurses in Disasters: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to determine the effect of psychological first-aid (PFA) E-learning on the competence and empathy of nurses in disasters. In a randomized controlled trial, 50 nurses were randomly assigned to 2 intervention and control groups, and psychological first-aid training sessions were implemented for the intervention group. The data were collected using the personal information form, a researcher-made questionnaire to measure competence, and the Davis Empathy Questionnaire. Two groups were homogeneous in terms of competency (P = 0.691) and empathy (P = 0.363) in the preintervention phase. The intervention group had more competence in the next stage than before the intervention (P < 0.0001). In the post-intervention phase, the intervention group had more competence compared with the control group (P < 0.0001). The overall effect size of PFA E-learning training on the nurses' competency was 1.9. Regarding empathy, in the post-intervention phase, the subscale of personal distress (P = 0.014) was significantly lower in the intervention group and the perspective-taking subscale was higher than in the control group (P < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of all scores of empathy and the subscale of empathic concern (P > 0.05). The overall effect size of PFA E-learning training on the nurses' empathy was 0.44. It is suggested to provide training, including a PFA E-learning model, for nurses and other therapists in disaster situations.

Forgiveness and Empathy as Predictors of Psychological Wellbeing among Nurses

The purpose of the study was to examine whether forgiveness and empathy have a significant correlation with psychological wellbeing among nurses. The present research will enable the theorist to develop measures that will cultivate empathy, forgiveness and psychological wellbeing in nurses. This was a correlational, survey based research. A sample of 151 nurses of age range 20-55 was selected via purposive sampling technique from Karachi, Pakistan. The participants were approached through online medium. The study variables were assessed through Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (Spreng et al., 2009), The Heartland Forgiveness scale (Thompson et al., 2005) and Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scales (Ryff, 1989). Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS- Version 22) was used for analyzing the data, the results revealed that empathy and forgiveness are significant predictors of psychological wellbeing. Further findings of the research highlighted significant differences in empathy, forgiveness and psychological wellbeing with respect to nurse’s age, gender, education and family structure. The results of the present study could be useful for enhancing nurse’s psychological.

Effects of weight bias training on student nurse empathy: A quasiexperimental study

AimThis study aimed to identify the efficacy of weight bias training on the empathy skills of student nurses when working with a person with obesity. BackgroundWeight bias with nurses harboring negative attitudes towards patients with obesity results in inferior care and patients' reluctance to seek medical care. Empathy is a communication skill used in nursing to build trust and rapport with patients to provide optimal patient-centered care. MethodsThis study used a quasi-experimental design with 121 undergraduate nursing students in their first semester of the nursing program. The students completed learning activities on weight bias, including reading an article on weight bias, watching a video showing an individual with obesity's experiences in the healthcare setting and participating in a group discussion and reflection on the article and video. In addition, students completed the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions Students’ version before and after the learning activities. Following the learning activities, students participated in a simulation activity with a standardized patient wearing an obesity suit. The standardized patient completed the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Nurse Empathy to rate the patient's perception of the nursing student's level of empathy based on their interactions in the simulation scenario. ResultsA comparison of the scores on the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-HPS showed there was not a significant difference in the scores before learning activities (M = 15.45, SD = 12.7) and post-learning activities (M = 15.94, SD = 11.5); t(120) = 0.476, p = .635. Data analysis identified significant changes in empathy scores on the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-HPS in the accelerated second-degree cohort with differences in scores before learning activities (M = 113.7, SD = 10.5) and post-learning activities (M = 116.5, SD = 13.4); t(50) = 2.02, p = .049. The traditional cohort did not have a significant change in empathy scores. Empathy scores and the patient's perception of empathy scores showed no relationship. Most (79 %) of the patient's perception of empathy scores was moderate. Student comments in this study support the findings that some nursing students harbor weight bias towards individuals with obesity. ConclusionThere is a need to identify learning activities that eliminate weight bias in the nursing student population and result in the student's ability to demonstrate appropriate communication skills and nursing behaviors in a nondiscriminatory manner to the patient with obesity. To improve empathy behaviors, students should practice communication skills throughout the nursing curriculum.

Mediating effects of emotion regulation between socio-cognitive mindfulness and empathy in nurses: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAcknowledging the under-examined research of socio-cognitive mindfulness and Gross’s emotion regulation strategies in nursing, this study investigated the relationships between socio-cognitive mindfulness, emotion regulation (i.e., reappraisal and suppression), and empathy among nurses. It also explored the mediating effects of emotion regulation.MethodsA cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted in a sample of 245 nurses from two university hospitals in South Korea. Convenience sampling was used to collect data between August 3 and September 29, 2020. Participants completed the questionnaire measuring their socio-cognitive mindfulness, emotion regulation, and empathy. Structural equation modeling and path analysis were conducted for data analysis.ResultsSocio-cognitive mindfulness positively influenced emotion regulation of reappraisal (β = 0.404, p < 0.01) and empathy (β = 0.402, p < 0.01), but negatively influenced emotion regulation of suppression (β = −0.149, p < 0.05). Reappraisal positively influenced empathy (β = 0.341, p < 0.01), whereas suppression negatively influenced empathy (β = −0.127, p < 0.05). Importantly, emotion regulation of reappraisal mediated the association between socio-cognitive mindfulness and empathy (a X b = 0.107, p < 0.01).ConclusionThe findings indicate that socio-cognitive mindfulness is effective in improving empathy among nurses by enhancing reappraisal. This study can provide a foundation for developing socio-cognitive mindfulness or emotion regulation programs to improve empathy among nurses, which would ultimately lead to better nursing performance by increasing patient satisfaction.