Table 2 Descriptive Statistics of the MES items
From: Midwifery empathy scale: development and validation for a greek sample
Question | Mean | Std. Deviation |
|---|---|---|
1. I believe that empathy plays an important role in midwifery care. | 1,46 | ,683 |
2. Midwives should understand the emotional situation of the women and their families. | 1,45 | ,590 |
3. I can perceive the hidden feelings and thoughts of the women that are in my care. | 2,42 | ,796 |
4. During the taking of the medical history it is not important to pay attention to the women’s feelings. | 5,04 | 1,276 |
5. Women’s emotions do not concern me. | 5,55 | ,853 |
6. Women feel better when they sense that they are understood. | 1,32 | ,603 |
7. I recognize the body language of a woman. | 2,28 | ,763 |
8. Body language is not as important as verbal communication for the understanding of the woman’s feelings. | 4,52 | 1,300 |
9. I recognize when a woman is silent because of embarrassment. | 2,07 | ,693 |
10. I don’t get emotionally affected when I see women cry. | 4,34 | 1,369 |
11. It is difficult for a midwife to see things from women’s perspective. | 4,75 | 1,199 |
12. I try to stand in the woman’s shoes, so I can better understand her. | 1,99 | ,991 |
13. I show that I am willing to listen to the woman by always sitting near her. | 1,70 | ,774 |
14. I would spend time to take care of women after my work hours. | 2,54 | 1,271 |
15. Midwife’s touch encourages the woman. | 1,66 | ,742 |
16. I avoid to touch the woman I am caring for, in order to keep a distance. | 5,05 | ,886 |
17. I think it is important to touch a woman when I am caring for her. | 1,90 | ,840 |
18. Very sensitive women irritate me. | 4,58 | 1,211 |
19. There were times that I witnessed a woman cry and I got emotional. | 2,32 | 1,131 |
20. Many times I left work and I kept thinking of a woman I was caring for. | 1,90 | ,960 |
21. I don’t think part of my job to occupy myself with the problems of the woman I care. | 4,85 | 1,188 |
22. I feel satisfaction when women feel better with my care. | 1,31 | ,704 |
23. If I realize that a woman is afraid, I spend time trying to reassure her. | 1,58 | ,743 |
24. I could go against hospital rules in order to help a woman. | 3,14 | 1,304 |
25. I usually stay emotionally detached from the women that are in my care. | 4,26 | 1,322 |