The Effect of Knowledge Brokering on Cardiac Nurses' Empathy With Their Patients: A Field Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background Although it has been reported that there is a relationship between empathetic behaviors and the reduction in cardiovascular events, some evidence revealed a lack of empathy among nurses. Accordingly, some interventions are required to be conducted for improving empathy among cardiac nurses. This study aimed to determine the effect of knowledge brokering on cardiac nurses' empathy with their patients. Methods This is a field randomized controlled trial conducted on a total of 100 cardiac nurses. Participants were assigned to two groups of control and intervention using stratified random allocation. In the intervention group, knowledge brokering was performed at seven stages, including personal assessment; horizon scanning; knowledge management; knowledge translation and exchange; network development, maintenance and facilitation; knowledge facilitation and skill development; and receiving the support of managers for individual changes. Data were collected using Empathy Construct Rating Scale (ECRS) and then analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA). The significance level was considered less than 0.05. The independent-samples t-test was utilized to compare the mean empathy scores before the intervention. The paired-samples t-test and the generalized linear model (with the identity link function) were respectively used to conduct the within- and between-group comparisons after the intervention. Results After the completion of the intervention, the mean changes of empathy score (± standard deviation) of empathy was shown to be 1.14 ± 27.73 in the control group (p = .773) and 11.02 ± 35.39 in the intervention group (p = .032). The difference in the mean changes of empathy score was significant between the two groups (p = .042). Conclusion Knowledge brokering can promote the level of empathy among cardiac nurses.