J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ.  2019 Aug;25(3):344-356. 10.5977/jkasne.2019.25.3.344.

The Effect of an Empathy Education Program on Nursing Students' Empathy Ability, Interpersonal Ability, and Caring

• Jeong JO
• Kim S

• KMID: 2457637
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2019.25.3.344

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effects of an empathy education program for undergraduate nursing students.
METHODS
The study employed a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. A total of 46 nursing students were voluntarily recruited by convenience sampling from senior nursing students from the nursing department of K college in I city, Korea. Participants were divided into two groups, an experimental group of 23 and a control group of 23. The experimental intervention (empathy education program) was conducted from April 19 to May 6, 2016 and consisted of 150-minute sessions, twice a week, for 3 weeks for a total of 15 hours.
RESULTS
Participants demonstrated improvements in perspective taking in cognitive empathy, improved empathic concern in emotional empathy, and improved communicative empathy. Analysis of reflective writings identified four theme clusters regarding communicative empathy: improvement of empathic expression, experiencing comfort and healing, improvement of interpersonal relationships, and experience of conflict resolution. Improved interpersonal ability and caring were also identified.
CONCLUSION
The empathy education program improved cognitive, emotional and communicative empathy, and interpersonal skills and care, which are all necessary qualities for nurses.

Keyword

Nursing students; Program; Empathy; Interpersonal relations; Caring

MeSH Terms

Education*
Empathy*
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Korea
Negotiating
Nursing*
Social Skills
Students, Nursing