Health Commun.  2024 Jun;19(1):43-52. 10.15715/kjhcom.2024.19.1.43.

Effects of the ‘Respect Together Program’ on Nursing Students’ Attitudes, Awareness, Empathy, and Interpersonal Communication Competence Toward People With Disabilities

• Park J
• Shin S

• KMID: 2562553
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15715/kjhcom.2024.19.1.43

Abstract

Purpose
: This study was designed to determine the impact of the ‘Respect Together Program’ for nursing students on their attitudes, awareness, empathy, and interpersonal communication competence toward people with disabilities.
Methods
: Among the students participating in the program, data were collected from 28 students who participated in both pre- and post-surveys. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program.
Results
: Compared to before the implementation of the ‘Respect Together’ program for direct interaction with the disabled, the subjects’ attitude scores toward the disabled, awareness scores toward the disabled, empathy toward the disabled, and interpersonal communication competence scores significantly improved statistically.
Conclusion
: The ‘Respect Together Program’, which involves meeting disabled people in person and carrying out the program together, improved participants’ attitudes, awareness, empathy, and interpersonal communication competence. This suggests that through the direct experience, trial and error, and role composition included in this program, it is possible to effectively prepare in advance to approach disabled people visiting the hospital in a more humane manner.

Keyword

Attitudes; Awareness; Communication; Empathy