Investigation Of The Empathy Ability Of Obstetric Nurses

ObjectiveOne of the aims is to understand the status of obstetric nurses’ empathy ability inthis study. Another is to explore the potential correlation between empathy ability andwork satisfaction, work-family conflict and to determine the influencing factors ofempathy ability; so as to provide references for nursing managers to improve obstetricnurses’ empathy ability.MethodsThis study was a questionnaire survey. Six hundred and ten obstetric nurseswere recruited from the hospital in Changsha, Zhuzhou and Hengyang city. Andasked to complete the questionnaires such as self-designed demographicquestionnaire, Interpersonal Reactivity Index for Chinese (IRI-C), Minnesotasatisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and work-family conflict scale. The data wereanalyzed by the following statistical methods, such as Description Analyze, theIndependent t-Test, One-way ANOVA, LSD-Test, Pears on Inter-correlation andMultiple Linear Regression Analysis with SPSS13.0.Results1、 The total score of empathy ability was (60.95±7.64) and the mean item score was(2.77±0.35), being in a medium level. The empathy concern was (3.14±0.42),being in highest score, and the fantasy was (2.30±0.64), being in lowest score.Comparing the difference of empathy ability among obstetric nurses in differenthospital and educational degree, there are significant differences (P<0.05).2、 The mean score of general satisfaction was (69.56±10.20), and the mean itemscore was (3.37±0.61). The most dissatisfied item was payment. And the mostsatisfied item was moral standard．3、 The score of work-family conflict was (56.91±9.56). The time-based work-family conflict was the highest conflict. TWIF was (4.08±0.54). TFTW was(3.03±0.66).Comparing the score of work-family conflict in marital status,employment forms, the length of service, and the titles, there are significantdifferences (P<0.05).4、 Empathy ability was positively correlated with work satisfaction and TWIF, andnegatively correlated with WIF, SFIW, BWIF, BFIW.5、 The intrinsic satisfaction, general satisfaction,time-based work Interference withfamily, behavior-based work interference with family, strain-based familyinterference with work,hospital grade and literacy had predictive power onempathy ability, which could explain17.9%of the total variance of empathyability.Conclusion1、 The empathy ability and work satisfaction of obstetric nurses are in intermediatelevel and work-family conflict is in higher level.2、 Work satisfaction has a predictive role for empathy ability of obstetric nurses.3、 The work-family conflict has a predictive role for empathy ability of obstetricnurses.4、 The positive influence on obstetric nurses’ empathy ability are intrinsicsatisfaction, general satisfaction,time-based work interference with family,behavior-based work interference with family, strain-based family interferencewith work, hospital grade and education.