QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: PATIENTS PERSPECTIVE (SURGICAL PATIENTS)

Abstract

This study is aimed at assessing the quality of nursing care from the patients` view point at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital which was the study setting. Descriptive study design was employed where the characteristics of nurses view by patients with regards to the quality of the care they render. The study sampled 100 patients out of a population of about 500 patients in a week using purpose sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to gather data. Following the data collection descriptive analysis was done on the data received. The studies found that majority of the patients were satisfied with the quality of nursing care of the hospital in question. Demographic factors that affected the perception of quality of care were age (p-value of 0.000), gender (p-value of 0.000), and educational background with p-value of 0.000 and religion also with a p-value of 0.000. It was found that majority (57%) of the respondents stated that the level of quality was good, 9% said it was very good whereas (2%) of the respondents said it was excellent. It was observed conversely that 32% of the respondents rated the quality of care as poor. The results show that majority of the respondents (78%) indicated the provision of needs of nurses as a means of improving the quality of nursing care. The study concludes that the quality of care as indicated by patient was rated good since more of the respondents had quality health care more of the time as compared to receiving poor quality care. Giving of incentives was mentioned by 7% of the respondent as a means of improving the quality of care.