PATIENT-PERCEIVED EMPATHY FROM NURSES AND THEIR ADHERENCE TO TREATMENT PLANS AMONG PATIENT’S TAKING MAINTENANCE

Abstract

This study determined the significant relationship between patient-perceived empathy from nurses and their adherence to treatment plans using test for correlations and test for differences. The respondents of the study are the 150 patients in the community of Malamba, Marilog District, Davao City taking maintenance medicines who are most willing to participate in the study. Non-probability sampling specifically purposive and quota sampling were sampling technique used. Findings of study revealed that the level of empathy from nurses is very high indicative that majority of the patient’s believed that attending nurses are very evidently manifesting empathy towards them. Similarly, the patient’s level of adherence to treatment is also very high which implies that patients are complying to their doctor’s order regarding their medicine intake. Moreover, test for correlations using Pearson r revealed that no significant relationship was established between the moderating variables (profile age, sex, education, and income), and the patient’s overall perceived empathy from nurses (independent variable) from the dependent variable (adherence to treatment plan). However, indicator patient’s feedback was found to have a significant positive relationship to patient’s adherence to treatment plan. Finally, statistical results using T-test and One Way ANOVA revealed no significant differences were noted in patient’s level adherence to treatment plans when analyzed according to their profile.