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Professional ethics training as a means to enhance the spiritual care competence of emergency department nurses in Iran: a quasi-experimental study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: While spiritual care is a critical component of holistic care, it is frequently overlooked in emergency settings where nurses face unique challenges including high patient turnover, time constraints, and prioritization of physical stabilization over holistic care. This study aimed to determine the impact of professional ethics training on the spiritual care competence of emergency department nurses at medical education centers affiliated with Lorestan University of Medical Sciences(LUMS). A two-group quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design. The study focused on nurses working in the emergency departments of medical training centers affiliated with LUMS in 2023. The sample included 84 nurses, who were selected using a stratified random sampling method (n = 42 per study group). Fou][‘r workshop sessions were conducted for the intervention group. The data collection tool comprised a questionnaire on spiritual care competence and a demographic characteristics form. The data were analyzed with the SPSS v23 trial. Statistical analyses involved inferential tests such as repeated measures ANOVA, independent t-test, and Fisher’s exact test, as well as descriptive statistics, including mean, median, and percentage. Most participants in both the intervention and control groups were female. The mean scores (SD) of spiritual care competence were 57 ± 6.89 (6.89) at baseline, 85.61 (7.47) after the intervention, and 85.61 (7.47) one month after the intervention. The repeated measures ANOVA indicated that the mean score changes of spiritual care competence over time were statistically significant (P < 0.001). In the intervention group, the mean scores of the total spiritual care competence and its dimensions (except for the self-recognition subscale) differed significantly over time (P < 0.001). Our findings demonstrate that scenario-based professional ethics training significantly enhances spiritual care competence among emergency department nurses, with immediate improvements sustained at one-month follow-up. These results underscore the practical value of integrating targeted ethics education into nursing professional development, particularly in high-stress emergency settings where spiritual needs are often overlooked. Not applicable. (1) Spiritual care is a key component of holistic care but is often neglected by nurses. (2) Professional ethics are the foundation of the nursing profession. (3) Nurses’ level of spiritual care competency is mediocre. (1) Spiritual care is not limited to palliative care but is also very important in the emergency department. (2) Scenario-based professional ethics training strengthens nurses’ skills in identifying and responding to the spiritual needs of patients in emergency situations. (3) Scenario-based professional ethics training plays a very important role in promoting the competence of spiritual care.

Source: BMC Nursing

DOI: 10.1186/s12912-025-04136-z

Authors: Milad Kazemi Najm, Tahereh Toulabi, Abbas Abbaszadeh, Nasrin Imanifar, Rasoul Mohammadi