The quality of nursing care from the perspective of hospitalized school-age children.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Hospitalized children's satisfaction with the care they receive is the main indicator for evaluating the way nurses should provide services and the quality of these services. The current study aimed to examine school-aged children's perceptions of nursing care quality. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 144 children aged 7-11 years were selected through a convenience sampling method. The data collection tool included The Child Care Quality at Hospital Questionnaire, and the personal- and family-related and disease-related factors questionnaire. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Based on the findings, the highest score of nursing care quality was related to characteristics domain (13 ± 1.7). In addition, the children's age, father's education and history of hospitalization were related to nurses' characteristics domain; mother's education and length of hospital stay were related to nursing activities domain; and mother's education, father's occupation and length of hospital stay were related to nursing environment domain. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that children's nurses can provide better quality care to children by paying attention to nurses' characteristics and then the scope of activities and care environment. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Considering the factors affecting the nursing care quality, a conscious step should also be taken for strategic planning of care.