Factors Influencing Patients’ Satisfaction with Nursing Care at the Upper East Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga

Abstract

The study examined factors influencing patients’ satisfaction with nursing care at the Upper East Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga. The organising framework for the study was the Interaction Model of Client Health Behaviour (IMCHB). The study employed a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. A sample of 260 male and female adult inpatients at Medical/Surgical Wards of the Upper East Regional Hospital participated in the study. The participants answered a questionnaire which consists of sociodemographic characteristics, Cognitive Appraisal Health Scale (CAHS), Picker Patients’ Experience (PPE) Questionnaire, Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale (NPIS) and Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale (NSNS). The data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Analytic techniques such as Independent t-test, Pearson Correlation, Standard Multiple Regression, and Sequential Multiple Regression were employed. The results indicate that patients’ previous nursing care experience is significantly but negatively related to patients’ nursing care satisfaction. Patients’ perception of illness did not significantly relate to patients’ nursing care satisfaction in this study. Also, nurse-patient interaction is significantly and positively related to patients’ satisfaction with nursing care. In addition, patients’ previous nursing care experience, patients’ perception of illness and nurse-patient interaction significantly explained 56% of patients’ nursing care satisfaction. Lastly, nurse-patient interaction was the most predictor of patients’ satisfaction with nursing care. The study would be useful to nurses and other healthcare professionals in their interaction with patients. This suggests the need for nurses to frequently assess patients’ level of satisfaction with nursing care in order to improve health care at hospitals. Also, health authorities should periodically organise continuous professional training on interpersonal relationship for all health providers in order to improve on their interactions and communication skills. Based on the study findings, there is a need to conduct future research on the impact of human and material resources on patients’ satisfaction with nursing care. The present study findings indicate the need for nurses and health authorities to place much importance in improving the relationship between nurses and patients in health care facilities.