Comparing patient and nurse perceptions of perioperative care quality

This study compared surgical patients' (n = 874) and perioperative nurses' (n = 143) perceptions of the quality of perioperative nursing care. The data were collected with a structured questionnaire in five hospital operating departments in Finland. The questionnaire items were divided into five main categories (staff characteristics, nursing activities, preconditions, progress of nursing process and environment); some of these categories were further divided into subcategories. Overall, patients tended to give significantly higher (P <.001) ratings than nurses, but for some items the patients had more critical perceptions. The results provide important clues for improving the quality of patient care so that staff activities better serve the needs of patients.