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Table 1 Inductively inferred categories

From: The relationship between empathy and altruistic motivations in nursing studies: a multi-method study

Theme

Brief description

Illustrative quotes

HEL

Willingness to feel useful and to affect the health of others.

‘I want to be of help to others; I want to contribute to trying to improve the lives of others.’

‘I chose this degree programme to make myself useful for others’

HUM

The desire to enter into contact with other people.

‘I chose the degree course in nursing ... because I like being in contact with people.’

‘I love being in contact with people.’

FAM

Significant others, such as family members, have significant influence on the students’ career decision.

‘Also, because there is a nurse in my family, that is, my grandmother, who was always an example for me.’

‘When my brother, also a nurse, told me about his experiences in the ward, I was fascinated.’

TOP

A personal interest in health-related scientific topics.

‘I chose this course of study because I like the subjects in this degree course.’

‘First of all, because I love the subjects that are studied in the nursing degree course.’

JOB

The possibility of secure employment and job stability.

‘I chose the undergraduate degree in nursing... to have greater job opportunities after finishing my studies.’

‘Another reason … is that I hope to find work faster.’

EXP

Healthcare-related experience, such as voluntary work in healthcare settings or a family member’s hospitalisation.

‘I have chosen to undertake these studies and subsequently enrol in the degree course in nursing because I feel alive only when I help and support others and I received confirmation following the illness of a person to whom I was very attached.’

‘I found myself at home in close contact with a grandfather to look after, I was his personal nurse, and this made me a happy person.’

Other

Not being able to get into other chosen study programmes, etc.

‘…I tried (to get into) the medicine degree course, but I wasn’t admitted.’