Influencing factors of humanistic care ability and its dimensions among mental health workers: an online cross-sectional study

Background: In psychiatric services, humanistic care ability significantly affects the quality of therapeutic relationship and thus affects therapeutic outcomes of patients. Mental health workers may face more obstacles in humanistic care during the COVID-19 pandemic, we aimed to explore the level of humanistic care ability among mental health workers and its potential influencing factors. Method: (s) An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 262 mental health workers working in Chongqing, China, from December 2020 to January 2021. Data were collected by the Caring Ability Inventory (CAI), the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-24) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised, Short Scale for Chinese (EPQ-RSC). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of humanistic care ability. Results: Mental health workers’ humanistic care ability was at a low level, with a score of 186.47 ± 21.34. Psychological capital was positively associated with humanistic care ability (β[95%CI] = 0.411 [0.464, 0.772], p<0.001) and its two dimensions (cognition: β[95%CI] = 0.514 [0.304, 0.465], p<0.001; patience: β[95%CI] = 0.478 [0.171, 0.283], p<0.001). Psychoticism was negatively associated with humanistic care ability (β[95%CI] = -0.277 [-5.179, -2.513], p<0.001) and its three dimensions (cognition: β[95%CI] = -0.124 [-1.567, -0.165], p<0.05; courage: β[95%CI] = -0.166 [-1.698, -0.316], p<0.01; patience: β[95%CI] = -0.185 [-1.330, -0.358], p<0.01). Extroversion was positively associated with humanistic care ability (β[95%CI] = 0.189 [0.686, 2.080], p<0.001) and its two dimensions (cognition: β[95%CI] = 0.188 [0.323, 1.051], p<0.001; courage: β[95%CI] = 0.268 [0.496, 1.230], p<0.001). Neuroticism was negatively associated with humanistic care ability (β[95%CI] = -0.130[-1.366, -0.193], p<0.01) and its one dimension (courage: β[95%CI] = -0.252 [-0.977, -0.352], p<0.001). Conclusion: (s) Research has found that the humanistic care ability of mental health workers is at a low level, and psychological capital and personality traits are significant factors influencing the humanistic care ability and its sub-dimensions. Interventions to improve psychological capital of mental health workers or to promote the change of personality traits that they want are recommended, thereby promoting humanistic practice.