Validation to the Spanish of the Jefferson empathy scale health professions students version and its psychometric properties in nursing students

Assessment of Empathy as a Prerequisite for Holistic Nursing: Psychometric Analysis of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students for Croatian BSc and MSc Nursing Students

Purpose: To translate the original Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students version in a group of nursing students and asses its psychometrical characteristics according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments guidelines. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: The study included 345 bachelor's and master's students in the nursing degree program. Construct validity was tested by exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Convergent validity was tested using the Pearson correlation coefficient to test the relationship between empathy and emotional intelligence. The reliability of internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach's alpha. Findings: The final version of the 16-item scale with its three-factor structure has a high reliability with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.86, and the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a positive and significant relationship between emotional intelligence and the total score of the empathy scale and the three subscales. Conclusion: The contribution of the study is significant as the instrument is qualitatively validated and its content is clinically and educationally important for understanding the concept of empathy, especially in the education of nursing students. The correct assessment of empathy contributes to a better understanding and implementation of the components of holistic care.

Psychometric evaluation of the 'Jefferson Scale of Empathy' in a sample of nursing students in the United Kingdom

AIM

To examine the psychometric properties of the 'Jefferson Scale of Empathy'.

DESIGN

A methodological study was conducted.

METHODS

A sample of 230 nursing students was used to analyse the psychometric properties of the 'Jefferson Scale of Empathy'. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to test construct validity. Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlations were carried out to test internal consistency reliability.

RESULTS

The mean score of the empathy SUM was 112.0 (SD: 12.6). A three-factor model was explored. This factor structure does not replicate the original 'Jefferson Scale of Empathy' when it was validated with medical students, but it is in line with later research with nursing students. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.80 for the SUM and 0.80-0.84 for individual items. Item-total correlation coefficients were 0.01-0.63.

NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Because this study focused on nursing students. No patients or the public were involved.

Mediating effect of workplace violence on the relationship between empathy and professional identity among nursing students

Background

Studies have reported that empathy had a positive effect on professional identity (PI) in nursing students. However, little was known about the mechanism underlying this relationship between empathy and professional identity in nursing students.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to analyze in depth the mediating effect of workplace violence (WVP) between empathy and professional identity in nursing students.

Methods

A total of 405 nursing students participated and were investigated using the Chinese version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professional (JSE-HP), the scale of professional identity about nursing students, and the workplace violence Incident Survey in this study. Hierarchical regression was used to analyze the mediating effect of workplace violence on the relationship between empathy and professional identity among nursing students.

Results

The score of nursing students' professional identity was 103.69 ± 17.79. Workplace violence had a significant negative correlation with empathy (r = -0.449, P < 0.001) and professional identity (r = -0.330, P < 0.001). Workplace violence accounted for 14.59% of the total mediating effect on the relationship between empathy and professional identity for nursing students.

Conclusions

In this study, the level of professional identity of nursing students was low. Workplace violence had a partially significantly mediating effect on the relationship between empathy and professional identity. Maybe, it was suggested that nursing students' professional identity might be improved and driven by a decrease in workplace violence. Targeted interventions at reducing nursing students' workplace violence should be developed and implemented. In addition, nursing managers and educators should be aware of the importance of empathy and improve professional identity in nursing students.

The effects of high-fidelity simulation training on empathy and attitudes toward older people among undergraduate nursing students: A quasi-experimental study

AIM

To evaluate the effects of high-fidelity simulation training on attitudes towards older people and empathy among undergraduate nursing students.

BACKGROUND

People worldwide are living longer and, consequently, the number of older people is increasing globally. Geriatric syndromes are highly prevalent and associated with increased morbidity and mortality in this population. Positive attitudes towards older people and high levels of empathy are necessary for the provision of high-quality nursing care, which will contribute towards improving the quality of life of older patients affected by these syndromes.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted using a longitudinal design with a single group and a pre- and post-intervention evaluation. The development of attitudes towards older people and empathy skills were evaluated using high-fidelity simulation-based training, comparing the levels obtained in these skills at baseline and after the simulation experience. The simulated scenarios recreated the great geriatric syndromes in older patients: instability, immobility, intellectual impairment and incontinence.

RESULTS

After the simulation sessions, nursing students significantly improved their total scores for both attitudes toward older people and empathy, moreover, improvements were found in the three subscales of empathy. The effect size was large for the total scores of both the attitudes towards older people and the empathy scales and the 'perspective taking' subscale. The obtained effect size was small for the 'compassionate care' subscale, whereas for the 'standing in the patient's shoes' subscale, the obtained effect size was medium.

CONCLUSIONS

Our high-fidelity simulation-based training allows undergraduate nursing students to improve their empathy levels and positive attitudes toward older people. The development of these skills may provide benefits directly related to high-quality care for older patients. Therefore, the inclusion of simulation training programs in geriatric nursing study plans is necessary to train nursing students in the care of older people and to prepare them for real clinical practice.

Cultural Adaptation, Validation, and Psychometric Description of the Pictorial Empathy Test (PET) in the Spanish Population

Abstract. Research in psychology and social neuroscience distinguishes between dispositional and situational empathy for the cognitive and affective aspects of empathy. Yet, the Pictorial Empathy Test (PET) is one of the few brief tests focusing on situational affective empathy. This paper describes the adaptation of PET in a two-stage process, consisting of instrument translation and exploratory analysis of the construct in a university student sample, followed by confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric validation in a general population sample (Study 1, N = 79 and Study 2, N = 580). Our results indicate that the Spanish PET version constitutes a single factor structure with high internal consistency as well as high construct stability across genders and across in-person and online test administration setups. We report satisfactory convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity of the Spanish PET, as reported for the original version, in addition to when explored across new dimensions, like the Interpersonal Reactivity Index or in relation to age and prosocial tendencies. Based on the above, we discuss delineation of the distinct components of emotional empathy as measured by the instrument. The work presented supports the use of the Spanish PET version as a brief screening tool for state affective (emotional) empathy.

Cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Jefferson empathy scale health professions students' version in SpanishOccupational therapy students

BACKGROUND

In occupational therapy, empathy is a fundamental concept and has a positive impact on health and quality of care outcomes for patients. It is a basic and essential concept that should prevail in the training of occupational therapy students. The aim of this study is to validate and cross-culturally adapt the Jefferson Medical Empathy Scale, version for health professionals (JSE-HPS) in a sample of Spanish university students of occupational therapy.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between 2019 and 2020. A convenience sample was selected, consisting of 221 students from the four courses of the Occupational Therapy degree at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos during the 2019-20 academic year. Each of the participants voluntarily and anonymously completed a sociodemographic data sheet (including age and sex), in addition to the following assessment scales: JSE-HPS and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI).

RESULTS

A culturally adapted version of the JSE-HPS that guarantees conceptual and grammatical equivalence specific to the study population was obtained. The psychometric analysis of the translated version showed a Cronbach coefficient α of 0.786. The test-retest reliability analysis showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.90 (95% CI = 0.86-0.93, p < 0.0001). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed positive results (χ² = 269.095, df = 167, p < 0.001, Confirmatory Fit Index [CFI] = 0.90, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation [RMSEA] = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The cultural adaptation and psychometric results suggest that the Spanish version of the JSE-HPS is a valid and reliable way to evaluate the empathic ability of occupational therapy students.

"Walking in Their Shoes": The effects of an immersive digital story intervention on empathy in nursing students

AIM

To evaluate the effects of a novel, immersive digital story intervention on empathy.

DESIGN

A randomized trial with three phases.

RESULTS

A total of 238 2nd year nursing students were recruited between May 2018 and December 2019. At baseline, no significant differences in empathy between the groups were found (p = .760). However, at post-test, empathy was significantly higher in the intervention group (M: 118.76, SD: 10.65) than it was in the control group (M: 114.60, SD: 15.40) (p = .012). At follow-up, there were no significant differences in empathy between the groups (p = .364).

CONCLUSION

The intervention resulted in an immediate increase in empathy in nursing students. However, further development of effective intervention delivery modes and fundamental redesign of the intervention itself would be needed to sustain this improvement over the long term.

Compassion in Spanish-speaking health care: A systematic review

Altought compassionate care is an important factor in health care, remains an unmet need in patients. The studies have been carried out in Anglo-Saxon countries with cultural environments and health systems that are very different from Spanish-speaking contexts. The aim of this study to understand the conceptual, evaluation and clinical application nuances of compassion and compassionate care in Spanish-speaking health care settings, through a systematic review. A search of the scientific literature was carried out following the PRISMA guidelines in ProQuest Central, PubMed and Web Of Science, resulting in 295 studies, of which 27 were selected, based on the following inclusion criteria: the article studied or analyzed the construct of compassion in healthcare setting and the participants were Spanish speakers or the authors spoke of the construct in Spanish. Two blinded evaluators performed the study selection process using the Covidence tool. The agreement between evaluators was in all cases satisfactory. Different definitions of the construct have been identified, that they generally share: the recognition of suffering and the attempt to alleviate it. There are few studies that focus solely on the analysis of compassion, since other concepts appear that are associated with it, such as empathy and self-compassion. Further research is needed to obtain a better and greater understanding of compassionate care adapted to the perceptions of patients and health professionals in different socio-cultural contexts. In this way, instruments that measure compassionate care can be better developed and adjusted, and interventions aimed at promoting compassion can be properly assessed.

Psychometric properties of the Jefferson Empathy Scale in four nursing student faculties

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Jefferson Medical Empathy Scale, Spanish version (JSE-S), its factorial structure, reliability, and the presence of invariance between genders in the behavior of empathy levels among Chilean nursing students.

METHOD

Instrumental research design. The JSE-S was applied to 1,320 nursing students. A confirmatory factor analysis was used. An invariance study between genders was carried out. Descriptive statistics were estimated. Between genders, Student's T distribution was applied alongside a homoscedasticity analysis. The level of significance was α ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

The confirmatory factor analysis determined the existence of three dimensions in the matrix. The statistical results of the invariance tests were significant, and allowed comparison between genders. Differences were found between mean empathy values, as well as in some of its dimensions between genders.

CONCLUSION

The factor structure of empathy data and its dimensions is in correspondence with the underlying three-dimensional model. There are differences in empathy levels and their dimensions between genders, with the exception of the compassionate care dimension, which was distributed similarly. Women were more empathetic than men.

Does workplace violence, empathy, and communication influence occupational stress among mental health nurses?

Workplace violence is a major cause of occupational stress among mental health nurses, particularly those working in acute care. This study investigated the occurrence of occupational stress among mental health nurses in psychiatric hospitals and explored whether workplace violence, empathy, and communication skills influenced occupational stress levels in this population. A socio-demographic questionnaire and the Chinese Nursing Work Stress Scale, Workplace Violence Scale, Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions version, and Nurses' Clinic Communication Competence Scale were administered to 539 mental health nurses from three top-grade tertiary research hospitals in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The analysis revealed a high level of job stress (3.06 ± 0.69) and a moderate prevalence of workplace violence (6.21 ± 2.94) existed among participants when compared with among other nurses. Meanwhile, participants' empathy (114.78 ± 15.99) and communication (4.31 ± 0.60) abilities were similar to or higher than those of other nursing populations. Mental health nurses with varying years of practice experience distinct levels of job stress. A linear regression analysis revealed that, while practice years (β = 0.104; P < 0.05) and workplace violence (β = 0.264; P < 0.01) aggravated occupational stress levels, empathy (β = -0.147; P < 0.01) facilitated reductions in stress. Results suggest that reducing workplace violence and improving empathy in therapeutic relationships can limit the pervasiveness of occupational stress among mental health nurses. Having both psychological support and organizational support after a violent incident is essential, and the importance of professional education should be stressed.