Abstract

Objective: To assess the attitudes towards learning communication skills,interpersonal communication competence and to identify related factors in nursing students at Duy Tan University.

Method: The cross-sectional study design was utilized among 219 nursing students at Duy Tan University in 2021. Data were collected through two self-administered questionnaires, the Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS) and the Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale (ICCS).

Results: It was found that nursing students had a high average score in the positive attitudes subscale (52.4 ± 6.0), and moderate negative attitudinal scores in the CSAS questionnaire (36.9 ± 8.8). Nursing students were in moderate interpersonal communication competence (102.83 ± 11.59). There were statistically significant differences between academic year, gender, GPA, leadership experience, participation in extracurricular activities, self-taught communication skills, communication standardized training needs, and attitudes towards communication skills (p<0.05). There were statistically significant differences between communication standardized training needs, GPA, and interpersonal communication competence (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Nursing students had a high positive attitudes and moderate negative attitudes towards learning communication skills. Effective intervention strategies are needed to improve interpersonal communication competence in nursing students.