The development and psychometric validation of a Chinese empathy motivation scale

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Chronic Heart Failure Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (CHFQOLQ-20)

The incidence rate of chronic heart failure has increased significantly in China and has a large impact on patients' lives. The purpose of the study was to validate the Chronic Heart Failure Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (CHFQOLQ-20) cross-culturally and test its reliability and validity in patients with chronic heart failure. This study was conducted by investigating 622 patients with chronic heart failure from August 2023 to January 2024, and the data were tested for validity using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0. The final psychometric validation of the CHFQOLQ-20 was performed. The Chinese version of the CHFQOLQ-20 had a Cronbach's α of 0.908, a split-half reliability of 0.870, and a retest reliability of 0.892. An exploratory factor analysis yielded four common factors with a cumulative ANOVA of 59.355%, and the validated factor analysis with one correction resulted in a better-fitting model (χ2/df = 2.020, RMSEA = 0.057, CFI = 0.920, TLI = 0.907). The scale is a reliable assessment tool that can be used in future clinical practice.

Implications of perceived empathy from spouses during pregnancy for health-related quality of life among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study in Anhui, China

BACKGROUND

Empathy is a critical component of nursing care, impacting both nurses' and patients' outcomes. However, perceived empathy from spouses during pregnancy and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are unclear. This study aimed to examine pregnant women's perceived empathy from their spouses and assess the relation of perceived empathy on HRQoL.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study, performed in the obstetric clinics or wards of four well-known hospitals in Anhui Province, China, included 349 pregnant women in the second or third trimester; participants were recruited by convenience sampling and enrolled from October to December 2021. A general information questionnaire, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), a purpose-designed empathy questionnaire and the Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) were used to evaluate the pregnant women's general information, perceptions of empathy and HRQoL. Data were analysed using SPSS 22 at a threshold of P < 0.05. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, Student's t test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were used for analysis.

RESULTS

The pregnant women's total empathy, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were 41.6 ± 9.0, 41.6 ± 7.6, and 47.7 ± 9.1, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that the purpose-designed empathy questionnaire items were significantly positively correlated with perspective taking and empathic concern but were not correlated with the personal distress dimension and were only partially correlated with the fantasy dimension. Maternal physical condition during pregnancy, planned pregnancy, and occupational stress were predictors of the PCS score (β = 0.281, P < 0.01; β = 0.132, P = 0.02; β = -0.128, P = 0.02). The behavioural empathy item of our purpose-designed empathy questionnaire and empathic concern were important predictors of the MCS score (β = 0.127, P = 0.02; β = 0.158, P < 0.01), as well as other demographic and obstetric information, explaining 22.0% of the variance in MCS scores totally (F = 12.228, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women perceived lower empathy from their spouses and reported lower HRQoL. Perceived empathy, particularly behavioural empathy, may significantly impact pregnant women's MCS scores but has no effect on their PCS scores. Strategies that foster perceived empathy from spouses among pregnant women are essential for facilitating healthy pregnancies and potentially improving maternal and child health.

Validation of the index for the core competence of nurses leading discharge planning for older patients in China†

Objective

With the continuous advancement of aging in China, the number of older inpatients has increased sharply. Older patients have a high demand for planning their discharge services. Nurses serve as the leader of discharge planning for patients; there is a lack of reliable evaluation tool to evaluate the core competitiveness of nurses who implement discharge planning for older patients in China. The purpose of this study was to validate the index for the core competence of nurses who lead discharge planning for older patients developed by a project team through the Delphi method in the early stage.

Methods

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey with 3-stage stratified sampling was used to select 1075 nurses from 17 public general hospitals in Ningxia, China.

Results

The index consists of 4 first-level indicators, 13 second-level indicators, and 57 third-level indicators. The results show that 57 third-level indicators had good discrimination. With exploratory factor analysis (EFA), 4 common factors that explained 72.79% of the total variance were extracted. The Cronbach’s α was 0.98, and the retest reliability within a 14-d interval was 0.86. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results show that the fit of the index structure was good. The criterion validity was 0.73.

Conclusions

The index presented excellent psychometric properties and can be used to measure the core competence of nurses in implementing discharge planning for older patients in China.

Development and psychometric evaluation of a quality nursing care scale from nurses' perspective

Aim

To develop and evaluate psychometric property of quality nursing care scale (QNCS) from nurses’ perspective in the Chinese context.

Design

A cross‐sectional survey design.

Methods

This study was conducted in two phases. In Phase I, literature review and interviews were conducted to develop the items. In Phase II, content validity was evaluated by five experts. Construct validity was tested through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) among 302 nurses and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) among 510 nurses from October 2014 to January 2015. Additionally, internal consistency reliability was tested.

Results

The EFA extracted six factors including staff characteristics, task‐oriented activities, human‐oriented activities, physical environment, patient outcomes and precondition. All six factors accounted for 74.78% of the total variance to explain quality nursing care. The modified measurement model of the final version of QNCS was supported by the CFA with 48 items in six dimensions. The internal consistency reliability of final QNCS was acceptable.

Motives for Empathy among Clinical Nurses in China: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the motives of clinical nurses for experiencing empathy with patients and their families based on a self-determination theory framework.

METHODS

Semi-structured face-to-face interviews with twenty-one nurses at four tertiary hospitals in Anhui, China, were conducted, recorded and transcribed. A content analysis with a directed approach was performed.

RESULTS

An analysis of the interview transcripts revealed three categories of empathy motivation: autonomous motivation, controlled motivation and a lack of empathy motivation. Autonomous motivation included personal interests, enjoyment and a sense of value, pure altruism, assimilation, and recognition of the importance of empathy. Controlled motivation highlighted pressures from oneself and others, the possibility of tangible or intangible rewards, and avoidance of adverse effects. Finally, a lack of empathy motivation referred to a lack of intention for empathy and denial of the value of empathy.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a deep understanding of the motives underlying empathy in nurses. The results reveal the reasons for empathy and may support the development of effective strategies to foster and promote empathy in nurses.