The mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between competence in dementia care and empathetic practices among nurses: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Dementia care requires not only clinical competence but also a high level of empathy from nursing professionals. Resilience has increasingly been recognized as a critical factor in enhancing both competence and compassionate care in demanding healthcare settings.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between nurses' competence in dementia care and their empathetic practices.

METHODS

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 200 registered nurses from ten hospitals in Sohag and Mansoura, Egypt. Participants met specific inclusion criteria, including at least one year of dementia care experience. Data were collected using the following instruments; the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Empathetic Care Scale, and the Sense of Competence in Dementia Care Staff Scale were administered. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Significant positive correlations were found between nurses' competence in dementia care and resilience (r = 0.350, p < 0.001), and between competence and empathetic practices (r = 0.249, p < 0.001). Resilience was also significantly correlated with empathetic practices (r = 0.378, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that resilience partially mediated the relationship between competence and empathetic practices (indirect effect: β = 0.116, BootSE = 0.036, 95% CI [0.053, 0.193]). The total effect of competence on empathetic practices was statistically significant (β = 0.249, B = 0.301, SE = 0.083, t = 3.625, p < 0.001), explaining 6.2% of the variance.

CONCLUSION

Resilience serves as a key psychological mechanism through which nurses' competence in dementia care translates into higher levels of empathetic practice. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating resilience-building interventions into nursing education and practice to enhance the quality of dementia care.