Table 3 Comparison of competency scores in the intervention and control groups for SC based on SCCS before and after the SC training

Assessment and implementation of SC

Intervention

14.28 ± 3.98

27.3 ± 3.02

13.02

3.68

18.09

0.001*

Control

13.09 ± 3.24

13.5 ± 5.34

0.78

0.15

-0.93

0.36

Independent t- test

1.54

14.78

P-value

0.126

0.001*

ES^* (Cohen’s d)

0.32

1.38

Professionalization and improving quality of care

Intervention

14.6 ± 4.31

27.82 ± 3.20

13.22

3.48

17.92

0.001*

Control

13.30 ± 3.65

13.5 ± 5.34

0.19

0.04

-0.23

0.81

Independent t- test

1.53

15.85

P-value

0.13

0.001*

ES^* (Cohen’s d)

0.32

3.25

Personal support and counseling of patients

Intervention

15.76 ± 4.78

27.98 ± 3.22

12.22

2.99

15.48

0.001 ^*

Control

15.2 ± 3.43

13.83 ± 5.08

1.19

0.27

1.51

0.14

Independent t- test

0.83

16.17

P-value

0.407

0.001 ^*

ES^* (Cohen’s d)

0.17

3.32

Referral to other professionals

Intervention

8 ± 2.42

13.96 ± 1.76

5.96

2.81

15.77

0.001 ^*

Control

7.42 ± 1.95

6.95 ± 2.51

0.47

0.20

1.57

0.124

Independent t- test

1.22

15.65

P-value

0.22

0.001 ^*

ES^* (Cohen’s d)

0.26

3.23

Attitudes toward patients’ spirituality

Intervention

13.7 ± 1.69

18.8 ± 1.88

5.10

2.84

3.12

0.003 ^*

Control

10.9 ± 2.81

10.14 ± 3.43

0.76

0.24

1.1

0.275

Independent t- test

1.51

15.30

P-value

0.134

0.001 ^*

ES^* (Cohen’s d)

0.32

3.13

Communication

Intervention

6.08 ± 1.73

9.46 ± 3.13

3.38

1.25

11.95

0.001 ^*

Control

5.54 ± 1.21

5.28 ± 1.61

0.26

0.18

0.93

0.35

Independent t- test

1.67

16.04

P-value

0.09

0.001 ^*

ES^* (Cohen’s d)

0.09

1.67

Total of the

SCCS

Intervention

70.62 ± 17.52

125.32 ± 12.87

54.7

3.55

19.43

0.001 ^*

Control

65.30 ± 12.67

63.59 ± 21.7

4.33

0.09

1.71

0.59

Independent t- test

1.63

16.89

P-value

0.11

0.001 ^*

ES^* (Cohen’s d)

0.34

3.46