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Heidari Z, Parang S, vatandost S, Zandkrimi E, Hasheminasab L. Empathy and Its Related Factors Among Midwifery Students at Universities in Sanandaj in 2023. CPR 2026; 3 (2) :87-96
URL: http://cpr.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-156-en.html

Background and Objective: Empathy is the most effective component of effective communication, meaning understanding the situation, emotions, and feelings of patients to provide quality care. Recognizing the importance of establishing empathetic communication with pregnant woman, this study aimed to assess empathy and its related factors among midwifery students at universities in Sanandaj j in 2023.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2023 on 218 midwifery students from the nursing and midwifery faculties of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences and Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch, using a census sampling method. The tools used included a demographic characteristics registration form and the midwifery empathy scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 26 and the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman correlation coefficients.
Results: The average age of the students was 27.22±7.8, 63.8% were single, 69.3% were in undergraduate studies, with an average interest score in midwifery of 6.92±2, and an average GPA of 15.86±1.2 for previous semesters. The average empathy score of the students was 4.3±0.45, with the interpersonal relationships dimension (4.97±0.94) scoring higher than other empathy dimensions. The total empathy score was positively and significantly correlated with the grade point average (r=0.151) and the students’ interest in the field of study (r=0.241; P<0.05).
Conclusion: The level of empathy among midwifery students is at a desirable level. Given the importance of empathy in midwifery students and its impact on improving the quality of midwifery care and mothers’ satisfaction, it is recommended to develop individual programs to enhance empathy, emotional literacy, and communication and social skills of students.