Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
08:33
A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences
Published on: September 4, 2019
Promoting empathy through a creative reflective teaching strategy: a mixed-method study.
1Department of Nursing, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Ave., Salisbury, MD 21801, USA. dawebster@salisbury.edu
The Journal of Nursing Education
|October 9, 2009
Summary
A creative reflective assignment in psychiatric nursing education may reduce stigma and enhance empathy. While not statistically significant, this approach showed promising trends in improving students
Area of Science:
- Psychiatric Nursing Education
- Empathy Development
- Mental Health Stigma Reduction
Background:
- Empathy is crucial for effective psychiatric nursing care.
- Traditional clinical experiences may not fully address empathy development.
- Creative and reflective methods offer alternative pedagogical approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of a creative reflective clinical experience on psychiatric nursing students' empathy.
- To explore students' perceptions of empathy development through creative expression.
- To assess the potential of creative assignments in reducing mental illness stigma.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-method approach involving 73 baccalaureate nursing students.
- Control group (n=44) had conventional clinical experience.
- Comparison group (n=29) engaged in a community psychosocial program with a creative reflective assignment.
- Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) measured empathy.
- Qualitative constructivist approach with purposive sampling explored student perceptions.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences in IRI scores between groups.
- Qualitative analysis revealed four themes: expectations, relationship building, changing perceptions, and understanding through creative expression.
- Trends suggested potential benefits of the creative reflective assignment.
Conclusions:
- Creative reflective assignments show potential for reducing stigma associated with mental illness.
- This pedagogical approach may foster empathy development in psychiatric nursing students.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the efficacy of creative methods in nursing education.
Related Concept Videos
02:34Empathy
Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor.
02:40The Scientific Method
Research is what makes the difference between facts and opinions. Facts are observable realities, and opinions are personal judgments, conclusions, or attitudes that may or may not be accurate. In the scientific community, facts can be established only using evidence collected through empirical research.
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the recognition that people have...
01:29Introspection
Introspection, long upheld as a reliable route to self-knowledge, involves examining one's thoughts, emotions, and mental processes. It underpins many psychological practices, from mindfulness meditation to psychotherapy and self-help strategies. However, empirical evidence challenges the accuracy of introspection as a means of understanding oneself.Limitations of Introspective InsightSeminal work by Nisbett and Wilson demonstrated that individuals are frequently unaware of the true causes...
01:21Cognitive Learning
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
01:15Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
The history of therapeutic communication can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, who emphasized the importance of developing trusting relationships with patients. She taught that the presence of nurses with patients results in therapeutic healing.
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...