Effectiveness of educational theater on nursing assistants’ empathy in long-term care facility: A mixed methods study

Empathy plays a critical role in the care provided by nursing assistants (NAs) in long-term care (LTC) settings, directly influencing resident satisfaction and well-being. This mixed methods study evaluates the effectiveness of educational theater (ET) in enhancing empathy among 86 NAs in northern Taiwan. Quantitative assessments using pre- and post-intervention questionnaires showed no statistically significant improvements in empathy scores, but the ET group reported higher satisfaction compared to those receiving traditional lectures. Educational level and prior training significantly influenced pre-test empathy scores, favoring those with higher education or empathy-related training. Qualitative analysis of reflective writings and a focus group interview identified key themes: behavior recognition, understanding residents' perspectives, empathy development, and conflict resolution skill enhancement. These findings highlight ET's potential to enhance empathy-related learning for NAs, advocating for tailored empathy education in LTC settings.