Effect of Compassion on Moral Sensitivity in Nursing Students: A Randomized Trial

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of compassion education on compassion competence and moral sensitivity in nursing students.

We conducted a pretest-posttest randomized controlled study (N = 122). After being divided into intervention and control groups, students in the intervention group were given a 6-week training program to increase their compassion. A participant identification form, the Compassion Competence Scale (CCS), and the Modified Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire for Student Nurses (MMSQSN) were used for data collection.

There was a significant positive increase in the CCS and MMSQSN scores of students in the intervention group at the end of the training. In the intervention group, a significant difference was found between pre- and post-intervention scores in the Communication, Susceptibility, and Insight subdimensions of the CCS. Additionally, the MMSQSN revealed a statistically significant positive change in the intervention group post-intervention. Specifically, the Interpersonal Orientation and Getting Expert Opinion subdimensions, as well as the total score, demonstrated significant improvement. No statistically significant differences were noted in the other subdimensions of the MMSQSN.

It is recommended that compassion education programs be incorporated into undergraduate nursing education curricula.