Influence of Self-awareness, Communication Efficacy, Empathy, and Nursing Organizational Culture on Communication Competence among Hospital Nurses

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing communication competence among hospital nurses. Methods: The participants were 136 nurses working at five general or tertiary hospitals with over 100 beds in Busan, Ulsan, and Geoje Island. Data were collected using structured self-report online questionnaires from July 18 to August 31, 2023. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, the Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise regression analysis using IBM SPSS version 25.0. Results: Self-awareness (β=.43, p<.001), a relationship-oriented organizational culture (β=.34, p<.001), working in a surgical ward (β=.19, p=.003), communication efficacy (β=.17, p=.011), hierarchy-oriented organizational culture (β=.16, p=.011), and working in a special unit (β=-.14, p=.023) were factors that significantly influenced nurses' communication competence. The model explained 52% of the variance in communication competence (F=28.43, p<.001) Conclusion: To improve communication competence in hospital nurses, healthcare institutions should provide learning opportunities to improve nurses’ self-awareness and communication efficacy. It is also essential to establish rules and order within a hierarchy-oriented organizational culture, while simultaneously promoting a relationship-oriented organizational culture based on trust and respect among colleagues.