The Effect of Empathy Skill Training on Therapeutic Communication of Nursing Students in the Care of Hospitalized Children

Background: Empathy is a crucial component of the nurse-patient relationship, serving as an essential clinical skill that strengthens the bond between nurses and patients and contributes to improved healthcare services. This study aimed to determine the impact of empathy skills training on the therapeutic communication of nursing students in caring for hospitalized children. Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a single-group pretest-posttest design and was conducted on final-year nursing students at the Islamic Azad University of Urmia in 2023. The sample consisted of 40 nursing students selected through census sampling. At the beginning of the study, students completed a demographic information questionnaire and a therapeutic communication questionnaire developed by Han et al. Then, they received empathy skills training in groups over eight 90-minute sessions, held four times a week. The training was delivered through lectures using a video projector in small groups of six. After the intervention, students completed the questionnaires again. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Descriptive statistics including mean (±SD) and frequency (percentage) were used to describe data, and paired t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean overall therapeutic communication scores of nursing students were 45.17±4.53 before the intervention and 47.97±4.43 after the intervention. Based on the results of the paired t-test, there was a significant difference between the mean overall therapeutic communication scores before and after the intervention (t=-3.99, P<0.05). Conclusion: Empathy skills training positively impacts the therapeutic communication of nursing students in caring for hospitalized children and can assist them in assessing the health problems of hospitalized children and providing better care.