CLINICAL COMPETENCE AND THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF NURSES IN RELATION TO PATIENT EMOTIONS : A CORRELATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Emotional satisfaction is an important aspect of nursing care quality, particularly among patients undergoing abdominal surgery who are vulnerable to anxiety, pain, and emotional stress. Nurses' clinical competence and therapeutic communication skills contribute to patients' emotional experiences during care. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between nurses' clinical competence and therapeutic communication skills and emotional satisfaction among patients undergoing abdominal surgery at Karsa Husada Batu Regional Hospital. This quantitative, cross-sectional correlational study included 68 patients selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a clinical competence instrument developed from selected items of the Patient Satisfaction with Nursing Care Quality Questionnaire (PSNCQQ), a therapeutic communication skills questionnaire, and the Patient Evaluation of Emotional Comfort Experienced (PEECE). Data were analyzed using the Spearman Rank test. Clinical competence was moderate in 35 patients (51.5%), therapeutic communication was fairly good in 30 patients (44.1%), and emotional satisfaction was moderate in 38 patients (55.9%). Clinical competence was significantly related to emotional satisfaction (p<0.001; r=0.582), as was therapeutic communication (p<0.001; r=0.755). Nurses’ clinical competence and therapeutic communication skills are significantly associated with emotional satisfaction in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Strengthening clinical competence and therapeutic communication may support better emotional experiences among patients undergoing abdominal surgery