Relationship of Communication Competence with Caring Behavior in Clinical Nurses: The Mediating Effect of Compassion Competence

Abstract

Purpose: This study was done to identify the mediating effect of compassion competence on the relationship between communication competence and caring behavior in clinical nurses.Methods: A structured self-report questionnaire was used to measure caring behavior, communication competence, and compassion competence. During September 2019, data were collected from 170 nurses working at general hospitals. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple linear regression with SPSS for Windows version 23.0 and Hayes's SPSS process macro (version 3.5).Results: Communication skills (β=.52) and compassion ability (β=.77) were identified as important predictors of nurses’ caring behavior. These variables explained approximately 54% of the variance in nurses’ caring behavior. Compassion competence also had a total mediating effect on the relationship between communication competence and caring behavior.Conclusion: In order to enhance the caring behavior of clinical nurses, enhancing compassion competence by strengthening communication development should be considered as a strategy.