Empatía, habilidades comunicativas y autoeficacia percibida en el personal de enfermería de un hospital en Tamaulipas, México

Abstract

Objetivo: Analizar la empatía, las habilidades de comunicación y la autoeficacia percibida en profesionales de enfermería. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio correlacional y transversal en un hospital general de segundo nivel ubicado en Tampico, Tamaulipas, México. La población estuvo conformada por el personal de enfermería que laboraba en la institución; y el muestreo fue no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se obtuvo información de 128 participantes. La recolección de datos se efectuó en línea, con el consentimiento informado de los participantes y la autorización del Comité de Ética e Investigación del hospital. Se aplicaron tres instrumentos: la Escala de Empatía Básica (9 ítems), la Escala de Habilidades de la Comunicación (18 ítems) y la Escala de Autoeficacia General (10 ítems). El análisis se realizó con SPSS versión 25, mediante estadísticos descriptivos, pruebas no paramétricas (Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, rho de Spearman) y regresión lineal múltiple para identificar predictores de autoeficacia percibida. Resultados: El análisis de los instrumentos mostró un nivel medio de empatía (M = 30,13; DE = 4,050), buenas habilidades de comunicación (M = 91,30; DE = 7,277) y alta autoeficacia percibida (M = 35,41; DE = 4,326). Las mujeres presentaron puntuaciones significativamente mayores de empatía que los hombres, sin encontrarse diferencias significativas en las demás variables. Conclusiones: Se identificó que las habilidades de comunicación constituyen un predictor significativo de la autoeficacia. Los hallazgos evidencian la importancia de fortalecer los factores personales y habilidades que influyen en la práctica de enfermería.Objective: To analyze empathy, communication skills, and perceived self-efficacy among nursing professionals. Materials and methods: A correlational and cross-sectional study was conducted in a second-level General Hospital located in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The population consisted of the nursing staff working at the institution; sampling was non-probabilistic and based on convenience. Data collection was carried out online, with informed consent from participants and authorization from the hospital's Ethics and Research Committee. Three instruments were applied: the Basic Empathy Scale (9 items), the Communication Skills Scale (18 items), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (10 items). Analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, employing descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman's rho), and multiple linear regression to identify predictors of perceived self-efficacy. Results: Data were obtained from 128 participants. Instrument analysis revealed a medium level of empathy (M = 30.13; SD = 4.050), good communication skills (M = 91.30; SD = 7.277), and high perceived self-efficacy (M = 35.41; SD = 4.326). Women showed significantly higher empathy scores than men, with no significant differences in the other variables. Conclusions: Communication skills were identified as a significant predictor of self-efficacy. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening personal factors and skills that influence nursing practice. Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a second-level general hospital, selected using non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Data collection was conducted online, with informed consent and authorization from the ethics and research committee. Three instruments were applied: Basic Empathy Scale (9 items), Communication Skills Scale (18 items), and General Self-Efficacy Scale (10 items). The analysis was performed using SPSS v.25. Results: Information was obtained from 128 participants: 106 women (82.8%) and 22 men (17.7%). The internal consistency of the instruments was adequate: empathy (α = .712), communication skills (α = .760), and self-efficacy (α = .877). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed a lack of normality, so nonparametric tests were applied. Individual analysis of the instruments showed an average level of empathy, good communication skills, and high perceived self-efficacy. Conclusions: Nursing staff showed an average level of empathy, good communication skills, and high perceived self-efficacy. Empathy was found to be positively associated with communication skills, and the latter were a significant predictor of self-efficacy.Objetivo: Analisar a empatia, as habilidades de comunicação e a autoeficácia percebida em profissionais de enfermagem. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizado um estudo correlacional e transversal em um hospital geral de segundo nível localizado em Tampico, Tamaulipas, México. A população consistiu do pessoal de enfermagem que trabalhava na instituição; a amostra foi não probabilística por conveniência. A coleta de dados foi realizada online, com o consentimento informado dos participantes e a autorização do Comité de Ética e Investigação do hospital. Foram aplicados três instrumentos: a Escala de Empatia Básica (9 itens), a Escala de Habilidades de Comunicação (18 itens) e a Escala de Autoeficácia Geral (10 itens). A análise foi realizada com o SPSS versão 25, por meio de estatísticas descritivas, testes não paramétricos (Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, rho de Spearman) e regressão linear múltipla para identificar preditores de autoeficácia percebida. Resultados: Foram obtidos dados de 128 participantes. A análise dos instrumentos mostrou um nível médio de empatia (M = 30,13; DE = 4,050), boas habilidades de comunicação (M = 91,30; DE = 7,277) e alta autoeficácia percebida (M = 35,41; DE = 4,326). As mulheres apresentaram pontuações significativamente mais altas de empatia do que os homens, não havendo diferenças significativas nas demais variáveis. Conclusões: Identificou-se que as habilidades de comunicação constituem um preditor significativo da autoeficácia. Os achados evidenciam a importância de fortalecer os fatores pessoais e as habilidades que influenciam a prática de enfermagem.