Exploring the role of empathy in nurses' intention to provide disaster care: a cross-sectional study.

IF 2.2 4区 医学 Q1 HEALTH POLICY & SERVICES
Anna Goudetsidou, Theodoros Pesiridis, Petros Galanis, Venetia Sofia Velonaki
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Over the past two decades, the increasing frequency of disasters highlights the urgent need for nurses willing to respond to these crises. Although disaster care is part of their professional role, willingness to provide care in such situations is not always guaranteed and may be influenced by various factors. Understanding what shapes their intention to provide care is critical for effective disaster planning. This study investigates the role of empathy in shaping nurses' intention to participate in disaster care, drawing on the Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis. To further contextualize this relationship, elements of the Theory of Planned Behavior-attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control-were also examined as potential predictors of behavioral intention.

Methods: A cross-sectional and correlational study was carried out among nurses in Greece using a convenience sampling method. Data collection took place from December 2023 to April 2024. Participants completed a questionnaire covering demographics, academic background, experiences with disasters, empathy (assessed using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy), and behavioral intentions related to disaster care. The Behavioral Intention Scale was used to assess the behavioral intention, attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control.

Results: The final sample included 252 nurses. Findings revealed a strong intention to participate in disaster victim care. Empathy levels were moderate to high, with a mean score of 103.56 on a 20-140 scale. Multiple linear regression, using behavioral intention as the dependent variable, revealed a significant positive association between subjective norms and behavioral intention. In contrast, empathy, attitude, and perceived behavioral control were not significantly associated with behavioral intention.

Conclusions: This study provides insights into the factors that influence nurses' intention to provide disaster care, with subjective norms emerging as the strongest predictor. These findings partially support the Theory of Planned Behavior and suggest that social expectations and perceived peer support may be critical in shaping willingness to respond. Although nurses exhibited strong empathy and a high intention to participate in disaster care, empathy did not significantly influence behavioral intention. Further research is needed to explore empathy's potential contribution to motivating nurses to engage in disaster response.

探讨共情在护士提供灾难护理意向中的作用:一项横断面研究。
背景:在过去二十年中,灾害发生的频率越来越高,迫切需要愿意应对这些危机的护士。虽然灾害护理是他们专业职责的一部分,但在这种情况下提供护理的意愿并不总是得到保证,而且可能受到各种因素的影响。了解是什么影响了他们提供护理的意愿,这对有效的灾难规划至关重要。本研究以共情-利他主义假说为基础,探讨共情对护士参与灾害护理意向的影响。为了进一步了解这种关系,计划行为理论的要素——对行为的态度、主观规范和感知行为控制——也被作为行为意向的潜在预测因素进行了研究。方法:采用方便抽样的方法对希腊护士进行横断面和相关性研究。数据收集时间为2023年12月至2024年4月。参与者完成了一份调查问卷,内容包括人口统计、学术背景、灾难经历、同理心(用杰弗逊同理心量表评估)和与灾难护理相关的行为意图。采用行为意向量表评估行为意向、行为态度、主观规范和感知行为控制。结果:最终样本包括252名护士。调查结果显示,他们有强烈的意愿参与救灾。共情水平从中等到高,在20-140的量表中平均得分为103.56分。以行为意向为因变量的多元线性回归结果显示,主观规范与行为意向之间存在显著的正相关关系。同理心、态度和行为控制知觉与行为意向的关系不显著。结论:本研究为影响护士提供灾害护理意向的因素提供了见解,主观规范成为最强的预测因子。这些发现部分支持了计划行为理论,并表明社会期望和感知同伴支持可能是形成回应意愿的关键。虽然护士表现出强烈的共情和高的参与灾难护理的意愿,但共情对行为意愿的影响不显著。需要进一步的研究来探索移情对激励护士参与灾难应对的潜在贡献。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
6.20
自引率
4.40%
发文量
38
审稿时长
28 weeks
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