Effect of Empathy-Based Program on Nursing Assistants in Long-term Care Facilities

Empathy level was measured using the full, unabbreviated Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions Version (JSE-HP), which constructs and assesses the multi-dimensional empathy levels of healthcare professionals (including perspective taking, compassionate care, and standing in patient's shoes).

The JSE-HP consists of 20 items answered on a 7-point Likert scale. The total score ranges from a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 140. A higher total score indicates a greater level of empathy (a better outcome), whereas a lower total score represents a worse outcome. Individual subscale scores were combined by summation to compute the final total score.

Attitudes toward older adults were measured using the full, unabbreviated Kogan's Attitudes Toward Older People Scale (KAOP), which constructs and assesses the positive and negative sentiments toward elderly populations.

The KAOP consists of 34 items answered on a 6-point Likert scale. The total score ranges from a minimum of 34 to a maximum of 204. A higher total score indicates a more positive attitude toward older adults (a better outcome), whereas a lower total score represents a more negative attitude (a worse outcome)

Empathic behavior was measured using a Structured Empathic Behavior Rating Scale, which constructs and evaluates observable empathic behaviors exhibited by nursing assistants during direct resident caregiving interactions.

The scale utilizes a standardized checklist to rate specific behavioral interactions. The total score ranges from a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 84. A higher total score indicates a higher frequency or better quality of demonstrated empathic behaviors (a better outcome), while a lower score represents fewer or poorer empathic behaviors.