Weekly Email Reminders Increase Nursing Students' Use of Empathic Communication: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Nurse Educ 2021;
46:366-371. [PMID:
33534516 DOI:
10.1097/nne.0000000000000978]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND
Empathic communication has numerous patient benefits, yet many nurses do not possess or utilize empathic communication skills.
PURPOSE
This study compared the efficacy of 2 low-cost, low-resource-intensive interventions to increase nursing students' use of empathic communication.
METHODS
The study was a randomized controlled trial with a pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up test. Participants were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: weekly empathic communication email reminders, an empathic communication quick reference guide, both, or neither.
RESULTS
All groups showed a significant increase in empathic communication between the pretest and posttest. The group that received emails only showed a significant increase above and beyond the control group. None of the groups significantly increased or decreased their empathic communication between the posttest and 3-month follow-up test.
CONCLUSIONS
Weekly empathic communication email reminders can increase nursing students' use of empathic communication above and beyond traditional lectures and class activities.
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