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Cho, Shin, Lee, Lee, Jang, Jeong, and Cha: University Nursing Students’ Empathic Ability and Cultural Competency
Original Article

Perspectives in Nursing Science 2015;12(2):106-114.

Published online: 19 October 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16952/pns.2015.12.2.106

University Nursing Students’ Empathic Ability and Cultural Competency

Mi Kyoung Cho1, , I Na Shin2, Yea JIn Lee2, Ji Hyo Lee2, Eun Hye Jang2, Hye Rin Jeong2, Kyung Min Cha2

1Associate Professor, College of Nursing, Eulji University, Seongnam

2Undergraduate Student, College of Nursing, Eulji University, Seongnam, Korea

Corresponding author: Cho, Mi Kyung College of Nusing, Eulji University, 533 Sanseong-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam 13136, Korea. Tel: +82-31-740-7415, Fax: +82-31-740-7415, E-mail: ciamkcho@eulji.ac.kr

Received 23 July 2015       Revised 30 September 2015       Accepted 30 September 2015

Copyright © 2015 The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose:

This study aimed to identify the relationship between empathic ability and cultural competency in university nursing students. Methods: This correlational study involved 139 second- and third-year nursing students. They completed a 3-part questionnaire comprising items assessing general characteristics (9), empathic ability (30), and cultural competency (27). Results: The mean scores for empathy and cultural competency were 106.0 and 78.7, respectively. Empathy did not differ significantly by general characteristics. However, cultural competency significantly differed by foreign language skill. Additionally, a significant correlation was found between the nursing students’ empathic ability and cultural competency. Conclusion: Nursing students’ empathic ability and cultural competency need to be enhanced to ensure the provision of high-quality nursing services to foreign patients.

Keywords: Nursing students, Empathic ability, Cultural competency

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Table 1.
General Characteristics of Participants (N=139)
Characteristics Categories n (%)
Gender Male 13 (9.4)
  Female 126 (90.6)
Clinical practicum No 65 (46.8)
Yes 74 (53.2)
Religion No 82 (59.0)
Yes 57 (41.0)
Visiting foreign country∗ No 52 (37.4)
Yes 76 (54.7)
Foreign language competence ＜5 54 (38.8)
≥5 85 (61.2)
Experience of interaction with foreigners No 62 (44.6)
Yes 77 (55.4)
Multicultural educational experience No 108 (77.7)
Yes 31 (22.3)

∗ Missing.

Table 2.
Descriptive Statistics of Empathy and Cultural Competence (N=139)
Variables M±SD Range
Empathy (total) 106.0±10.1 78~129
  Cognitive-empathic ability 51.9±5.1 36~64
  Emotional-empathic ability 54.0±6.5 37~69
Cultural competence (total) 78.7±12.3 46~117
  Cultural awareness 16.4±2.0 11~20
  Cultural sensitivity 10.8±3.0 4~20
  Cultural skill 15.2±3.1 8~25
  Cultural experience 13.4±2.5 7~20
  Cultural knowledge 22.9±5.8 10~42
Table 3.
Empathy by General Characteristics of Participants (N=139)
Characteristics Categories Empathy (total) Cognitive-empathic ability Emotional-empathic ability
M±SD t (p) M±SD t (p) M±SD t (p)
Gender Male 103.8±11.4 -.791 51.6±5.4 -.235 52.2±7.0 -1.052
Female 106.2±10.0 (.431) 52.0±5.1 (.814) 54.2±6.4 (.295)
Clinical practice No 106.1±10.1 -.173 52.1±5.5 .389 53.7±6.2 -.579
Yes 105.8±10.2 (.863) 51.8±4.7 (.698) 54.4±6.4 (.563)
Religion No 106.6±10.4 .663 52.4±5.1 .964 54.2±6.4 .275
Yes 105.5±10.0 (.508) 51.6±5.1 (.337) 53.9±6.6 (.784)
Visiting foreign country∗ No 104.4±10.8 -1.537 51.3±5.0 -1.210 53.1±7.3 -1.445
Yes 107.2±9.7 (.127) 52.4±5.2 (.229) 54.8±5.9 (.151)
Foreign language competence ＜5 105.2±9.5 -.687 51.3±5.1 -1.171 53.9±6.1 -.149
≥5 106.4±10.6 (.493) 52.3±5.1 (.244) 54.1±6.7 (.882)
Experience of interaction with foreigners No 106.3±10.3 .373 52.1±4.9 .365 54.2±6.7 .294
Yes 105.7±10.0 (.710) 51.8±5.4 (.716) 53.9±6.4 (.769)
Multicultural educational experience No 105.6±10.1 -.765 51.7±5.0 -1.193 54.0±6.5 -.254
Yes 107.2±10.3 (.445) 52.9±5.0 (.235) 54.3±6.6 (.800)

∗ Missing.

Table 4.
Cultural Competence by General Characteristics of Participants (N=139)
Characteristics Categories Cultural competence (total) Cultural awareness Cultural sensitivity Cultural skill Cultural experience Cultural knowledge
M±SD t (p) M±SD t (p) M±SD t (p) M±SD t (p) M±SD t (p) M±SD t (p)
Gender Male 79.5±16.7 0.178 16.1±2.6 -0.612 10.8±3.7 -0.055 15.8±4.1 0.673 13.5±2.9 0.088 23.4±6.6 0.340
Female 78.6±11.8 (.862) 16.4±1.9 (.542) 10.8±2.9 (.956) 15.2±3.0 (.502) 13.4±2.5 (.930) 22.8±5.7 (.734)
Clinical practice No 78.3±11.2 0.350 16.3±2.0 -0.713 11.0±2.9 -0.635 15.6±3.2 1.362 13.3±2.4 0.283 23.1±6.4 0.472
Yes 79.0±13.2 (.727) 16.5±1.9 (.477) 10.7±3.1 (.527) 14.8±2.9 (.175) 13.5±2.6 (.778) 22.6±5.1 (.638)
Religion No 77.0±11.9 1.917 16.4±2.1 0.213 10.6±2.8 0.847 15.7±3.3 1.657 13.0±2.5 2.453 23.8±5.5 1.611
Yes 81.1±12.6 (.057) 16.4±1.9 (.831) 11.1±3.3 (.398) 14.9±2.8 (.100) 14.0±2.4 (.015) 22.2±5.9 (.109)
Visiting foreign country∗ No 77.0±12.7 -0.998 16.2±1.6 -1.309 10.7±3.0 0.139 15.1±3.4 -0.066 12.9±2.6 -1.613 22.1±5.9 -0.874
Yes 79.2±11.6 (.320) 16.6±2.0 (.193) 10.8±3.0 (.886) 15.2±2.8 (.947) 13.6±2.4 (.109) 23.0±5.6 (.384)
Foreign language skill ＜5 74.5±9.5 -2.074 14.0±2.6 -1.723 10.3±3.0 -1.638 14.8±3.1 -1.196 13.3±1.2 -1.024 21.7±6.0 -1.869
≥5 77.7±11.9 (.040) 16.3±2.0 (.087) 11.1±2.9 (.104) 15.5±3.1 (.234) 12.9±2.1 (.307) 23.6±5.5 (.064)
Experience of interaction with foreigners No 77.5±12.6 -1.074 16.4±1.9 -0.219 10.4±3.0 -1.343 15.0±2.8 -0.712 13.2±2.6 -0.883 22.5±6.2 -0.751
Yes 79.7±12.0 (.285) 16.4±2.0 (.827) 11.1±3.0 (.181) 15.4±3.3 (.477) 13.6±2.4 (.379) 23.2±5.4 (.454)
Multicultural educational experience No 77.8±12.8 -1.642 16.2±1.9 -1.851 10.8±3.1 -0.395 15.2±3.2 -0.403 13.2±2.6 -2.099 22.5±5.9 -1.529
Yes 81.9±9.9 (.103) 17.0±2.1 (.066) 11.0±2.5 (.693) 15.4±2.5 (.687) 14.2±2.1 (.038) 24.3±5.1 (.129)

∗ Missing.

Table 5.
Correlation on Coefficients between Empathy and Cultural Competence (N=139)
Variables Cultural competence (total) Cultural awareness Cultural sensitivity Cultural skill Cultural experience Cultural knowledge
r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p)
Empathy (total) .239 (.005) .459 (＜.001) .189 (.026) .109 (.203) .361 (＜.001) .039 (.645)
Cognitive-empathic ability .245 (.004) .392 (＜.001) .164 (.054) .132 (.122) .356 (＜.001) .077 (.356)
Emotional-empathic ability .180 (.034) .407 (＜.001) .165 (.052) .066 (.442) .282 (.001) .000 (.995)
Table 6.
Influencing Factors on Empathy and Cultural Competence
Variables Empathy Cultural competence
β t p β t p
(Constant)   9.142 ＜.001   3.966 ＜.001
Foreign language skill       .111 1.332 .185
Cultural awareness .363 4.377 ＜.001      
Cultural sensitivity .261 2.507 .013      
Cultural skill -.082 -0.750 .455      
Cultural experience .241 2.477 .014      
Cultural knowledge -.195 -1.854 .066      
Cognitive-empathic ability       .196 2.021 .045
Emotional-empathic ability       .072 0.743 .459
F∗   10.672     3.696  
p   ＜.001     .013  
Adj R2   .259     .055  
Adj R2 change   .286     .076  
Tolerence   0.451~0.778     0.728~0.989  
VIF   1.285~2.215     1.011~1.373  
Durbin-Watson   1.897     1.966  

∗ Multiple regression.

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