NURSES’ EMPATHY IN AN EMERGENCY HOSPITAL SERVICE

• Published in: Texto & contexto enfermagem 2019, Vol.28
• Main Authors: Albuquerque, Maria Cícera dos Santos de, Souza, Dilma Ferreira Silva de, Maynart, Willams Henrique da Costa, Bezerra, Luís Filipe Dias, Cassimiro, Adnez Regina Tertuliano da Silva, Cavalcante, Jairo Calado
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: NURSING
• ISSN: 0104-0707; 1980-265X; 1980-265X
• DOI: 10.1590/1980-265x-tce-2017-0406

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the empathy of nursing professionals who work in an urgency and emergency hospital service. Method: a cross-sectional study with 230 nursing professionals working in a public hospital in Maceió (Alagoas/Brazil). Data collected by sociodemographic questionnaire and Empathy Inventory between 2014 and 2015. Descriptive statistics of the data, analysis of variance and Cronbach's alpha of significance 0.05. Results: out of the 230 professionals, 59 were nurses and 171 mid-level nursing professionals, with a mean age of 42.3 years old, 205 were women, 120 were married, 175 had children and 108 had a college education. Participants had higher levels of affective sensitivity (82.9%) and perspective (73.0%), followed by altruism (64.7%) and interpersonal flexibility (59.7%). In general, there was a statistically significant difference between the nursing professionals in relation to empathy, and the nurse was more empathic (p value=0.039) than the other professionals. Conclusion: among the four factors that make up the empathy ability, the greater ability to take perspective, to raise awareness of other people's situations, to accept ideas that are foreign to theirs, and to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others, have stood out among the nursing professionals in the emergency service. In nursing, empathy is generally associated with the professional category. RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar la empatía de los profesionales de enfermería que actúan en un servicio de urgencia y emergencia en hospital. Método: estudio transversal con 230 profesionales de la enfermería actuantes en un hospital público de Maceió (Alagoas/Brazil). Datos recogidos por cuestionario sociodemográfico e Inventario de Empatía entre 2014 y 2015. Estadística descriptiva de los datos, análisis de varianza y Alfa de Cronbach de significancia 0,05. Resultados: de los 230 profesionales, 59 eran enfermeros y 171 profesionales de enfermería del nivel medio, con edad media de 42,3 años, 205 mujeres, 120 casados, 175 tenían hijos y 108 poseían escolaridad de nivel superior completo. Los participantes presentaron mayores índices de sensibilidad afectiva (82,9%) y toma de perspectiva (73,0%), seguidos de altruísmo (64,7%) y flexibilidad interpersonal (59,7%). En general, hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los profesionales de enfermería en relación a la empatía, siendo el enfermero más empático (p valor=0,039) que los demás profesionales. Conclusión: entr