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Effect of Patient Experiential Video on Empathy and Education for Surgical Aseptic Technique Among Certified Surgical
Stephen G Wilson1, Candace L Ayars
1Surgical Technology Program, Calhoun Community College, PO Box 2216, Decatur, AL 35609, USA. grant.wilson@calhoun.edu.
Purpose:
Certified surgical technologists (CSTs) promote asepsis principles due to their specialized education, help¬ing to minimize surgical site infections (SSIs). However, closing the empathy gap could support understanding and commitment to aseptic technique and improve outcomes.
Methods:
A single intervention, randomized posttest control group design was used to study the effect of a patient experiential video on the state empathy and aseptic technique performance of a convenience sample of CSTs (n = 133). The predictive ability of empathy and safety on CST exam scores was also examined. Data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) controlling for CST exam scores, independent t-tests, and regression analysis.
Results:
Differences between the means for the experimental and control groups were not significant. There was a statistically significant increase in mean associative empathy scores between the groups of 1.18 points, 95% CI [-0.01, 2.36], t(131) = 1.96, p < 0.05, d = 0.341. Empathy and safety scores statistically significantly predicted CST score (adjusted R2 = 0.14, p < 0.005). The aseptic safety score added significantly to the prediction, p = 0.001.
Conclusion:
The significant difference in associative empathy scores produced by a patient-presented video could reduce the empathy gap, reduce psychological reactance, and improve aseptic techniques for CSTs.
