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Psychometric properties of a C hinese version of the J efferson S cale of E mpathy‐ H ealth P rofession S tudents
Author(s) -
Hsiao CY.,
Tsai YF.,
Kao YC.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1365-2850
pISSN - 1351-0126
DOI - 10.1111/jpm.12024
Subject(s) - empathy , cronbach's alpha , bachelor , content validity , psychology , construct validity , nursing , scale (ratio) , reliability (semiconductor) , clinical psychology , medicine , psychometrics , social psychology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , archaeology , history
Accessible summary● Empathy is considered as an integral component of the therapeutic nurse–patient relationship. ● Valid and reliable Chinese instruments to assess nursing students' empathy are scarce. ● This study evaluates psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy‐Health Profession Students among Taiwanese undergraduate nursing students. ● A Chinese version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy‐Health Profession Students is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the degree of empathy in undergraduate nursing students.Abstract Empathy is central to a therapeutic nurse–patient relationship. Valid and reliable C hinese instruments to assess nursing students' empathy are lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a C hinese version of the J efferson S cale of E mpathy‐ H ealth P rofession S tudents ( C ‐ JSE‐HPS ) among T aiwanese undergraduate nursing students. A convenience sample of 613 T aiwanese nursing students participated in the study. Content validity, construct validity, internal consistency reliability and test–retest reliability were examined. Content validity was confirmed by a content validity index of 0.89. Factor analysis yielded three components of perspective taking, compassionate care and standing in the patient's shoes, explaining 57.14% of total variance. Women scored higher on empathy than men. Also, students who were enrolled in the 4‐year B achelor of S cience in N ursing ( BSN ) indicated greater empathy degrees than those in the 2‐year R egistered N urse to B achelor of S cience in N ursing ( RN ‐to‐ BSN ). C ronbach's alpha coefficient and the test–retest reliability were 0.93 and 0.92 respectively. A C ‐ JSE‐HPS demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties to measure empathy of undergraduate nursing students. Educators may use this instrument to assess empathic qualities among students and design effective empathy‐oriented nursing curricula to improve the quality of nursing care.