Caring behavior perceived by nurses, patients and nursing students in Indonesia

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Research
• Patient Care Studies

Background:

• Caring is a fundamental concept in nursing, encompassing all actions nurses take to provide health services.
• Understanding perceptions of caring is crucial for improving nursing practice and education.
• Previous research has explored caring behaviors, but comparative studies across different stakeholder groups are less common.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the perceptions of caring behaviors among nurses, patients, and nursing students.
• To investigate the relationship between sociodemographic variables and the perception of caring.
• To identify specific caring domains influenced by demographic factors.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive comparative research design was employed.
• Data were collected from 158 respondents (53 each from nurses, patients, and nursing students) in Indonesia.
• The Caring Behavior Inventory-42, assessing five domains (respect, assurance, connectedness, knowledge and skills, attentiveness), was utilized.

Main Results:

• Nurses, patients, and nursing students demonstrated congruent perceptions of caring behaviors.
• Patient age showed positive correlations with respect and connectedness.
• Male students scored higher in assurance, knowledge/skills, and attentiveness compared to female students.
• Students with 8-week clinical experience reported higher connectedness than those with 4-week experience.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms a shared understanding of caring behaviors across nurses, patients, and students.
• Sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, and clinical experience, significantly influence the perception of specific caring behaviors.
• Findings offer valuable insights for enhancing nursing practice and education by addressing demographic nuances in patient care.