Patients' satisfaction with the quality of nursing care in thalassemia units

The purpose of this study is to evaluate patients' satisfaction with the quality of nursing care in thalassemia units.

A cross-sectional and descriptive research design was used. An Arabic version of the "Patients' satisfaction with nursing care quality questionnaire" (PQNCQ) was used. A convenience sample of 377 thalassemia patients from three public hospitals in Jordan was used.

Overall, participants were satisfied with the quality of nursing care and the health services they received during their hospitalization. Total high scores were given for the level of nursing skills and competencies, ease of getting information, responses to patient's calls, and maintaining patient's privacy. However, participants reported some concerns regarding the structure of these units and the availability of some services, as well as the system for dispensing medication. Nevertheless, patients were willing to recommend the units to their families and friends. Significant positive relationships were found between patients' satisfaction with different nursing care practices and with overall quality of nursing care, overall hospitals' quality of care, and recommending the hospital to families and friends. Self-rated health and frequency of hospitalization were the only significant predictors for overall quality of nursing care.

Improving nursing care practices play an important role in shaping nurses' and hospitals' quality of the care among patients in thalassemia units.

Policy makers and hospitals administrators should focus on nursing training programs that improve patients' satisfaction and quality of nursing care in thalassemia units.