Evaluation of midwives' empathics skills and tendency based on the theory of planned behavior with selected films

The aim of the study is to evaluate the empathic skills and tendency intentions of midwives within the scope The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with selected films. In this context, the study was carried out in two stages as scale development and quasi-experimental study. In the first stage of the study, a literature review was conducted for the scale development process within the scope of TPB and a 44-item item pool was created. As a result of expert opinions, a 26-item draft scale form was obtained. The draft form and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) processes were completed. In the second stage of the study, case (n=34) and control groups (n=34) consisting of midwives who have been actively working for at least two years were created. Five films compatible with the duties/authorities/responsibilities, fields of practice, professional values and ethical principles of the midwives were selected for the case group and the film application was made. There was no intervention in the control group. The Midwives' Empathic Skills and Tendency Intention Scale (MESTIS) developed within the scope of the first phase of the study and the The Empathy Quotient (EQ) adapted to Turkish by Baysan Arabacı and Bora were administered to the case and control groups at the same time before, after and four weeks after the application. In the first phase of the study, a three-factor structure with 15 items was obtained after EFA of the 26-item draft form. It was determined that Factor 1 explained 45.937% of the total variance, Factor 2 explained 13.339% of the total variance, Factor 3 explained 8.851% of the total variance and 68.127% of the total variance with three dimensions in total. When the reliability of the scale was examined, the general Cronbach's alpha was found to be 0.892. As a result of the CFA, it was determined that the values were within acceptable limits. In the second stage of the study, it was determined that the empathy intentions of the case group increased significantly from the MESTIS and EQ pre-test scores to the post-test and follow-up test (p= 0.00). In the control group, a significant decrease was observed between the tests. While there was no difference between the MESTIS pre-test results of the case and control groups, it was seen that the case group was significantly higher between the post-test and follow-up tests. The EQ scores between the groups, the pre-test score of the control group was found to be statistically higher, but no significant difference was seen in the other tests. As a result of the study, it was determined that the EBENÖ had a valid and reliable scale structure. It was determined that the empathic skills and tendency intentions of the midwives could be increased with the film application. It is recommended that the application be supported, its duration be extended for a long-term effect, and that it be included in the in-service training of the midwives in order for the intention to turn into empathic behavior.