The Empathy Level and Its Associated Factors Among Nursing Assistants in Long-Term Care Facilities

AIM: This study aimed to investigate empathy levels among nursing assistants (NAs) in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and identify factors associated with empathy levels.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional national study.

METHODS: We recruited 512 NAs from 232 LTCFs across Taiwan. Participants completed structured questionnaires including information on demographic characteristics and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions version (JSE-HP). The data were collected from April to July 2023.

RESULTS: The average JSE-HP score among NAs was 101.46 ± 14.05. Empathy levels were significantly associated with several factors, including age, educational background, religious beliefs, economic status, length of work experience, and prior empathy training or courses. A multiple linear regression analysis identified age, educational level, economic status, and prior empathy training as significant predictors of empathy levels among NAs.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study revealed that NAs in LTCFs in Taiwan exhibited low levels of empathy. NAs, who were older, had higher educational levels, had a better economic status, and had previous empathy training or courses demonstrated higher levels of empathy.

IMPACT: Empathy is vital in caregiving, and it is crucial to urgently address and enhance empathy among NAs. Future research should focus on developing targeted interventions to improve empathy levels of NAs within LTCFs.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.