J Korean Clin Nurs Res.  2024 Dec;30(3):265-274. 10.22650/JKCNR.2024.30.3.265.

An Effect of Psychiatric Nurses’ Human Rights Sensitivity, Moral Sensitivity, and Empathy Ability on Advocacy Nursing

• Kim JS
• Kim H

• KMID: 2567668
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2024.30.3.265

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to explore the relationships between psychiatric nurses’ human rights sensitivity, moral sensitivity, empathy ability, and advocacy nursing, and to identify factors influencing advocacy nursing.
Methods
Participants included 178 psychiatric nurses from eight psychiatric medical institutions located in the G metropolitan city and J province. Data were collected from August 21 to September 18, 2023, using structured questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS 25.0, including descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis.
Results
Human rights sensitivity scored 34.94±19.25 out of 75, moral sensitivity 4.90±0.51 out of 7, empathy ability 2.31±0.38 out of 4, and advocacy nursing 3.59±0.39 out of 5. Significant differences were found in advocacy nursing by age, marital status, education, previous education on human rights, the number of human rights education sessions. Advocacy nursing was correlated with human rights sensitivity (r=.22, p=.003) and moral sensitivity (r=.63, p<.001), while empathy ability showed a positive correlation with human rights sensitivity (r=.15, p=.044). Regression analysis revealed significant effects of age, the number of human rights education sessions, human rights sensitivity, and moral sensitivity on advocacy nursing, with the model's explanatory power at 47.0% (F=14.97, p<.001).
Conclusion
Moral sensitivity and human rights sensitivity are key factors influencing advocacy nursing. To improve advocacy nursing, it is recommended to provide education that enhances these sensitivities and to establish a system guiding advocacy nursing practice.

Keyword

Human Rights; Morals; Empathy; Patient Advocacy; Psychiatric Nursing