Oncology Nurse-Patient relationships based on nurses' sampling characteristics. An exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Research
• Oncology Nursing

Background:

• Patient care is a fundamental nursing duty, crucial for human development and survival.
• Understanding factors influencing nurse-patient interactions is vital for quality healthcare.
• Oncology nursing presents unique challenges and demands in patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how nurse characteristics, specifically gender, oncology work experience, and shift work, impact nurse-patient interactions.
• To analyze these interactions across four key dimensions: clinical, relational, humanistic, and comforting care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 306 Italian oncology nurses was conducted in September-October 2023.
• Data collected included nurse demographics (gender, years of experience, shift work) and the Caring Nurse-Patient Interactions Scale (CNPI).
• The CNPI assessed four sub-dimensions: clinical, relational, humanistic, and comforting care.

Main Results:

• Male nurses reported significantly higher scores than female nurses across all four CNPI sub-dimensions: clinical (p=0.006), relational (p=0.010), humanistic (p=0.047), and comforting care (p=0.009).
• No significant differences were reported based on work experience in oncology or shift work in the provided abstract.
• These results indicate a notable gender-based difference in perceived nurse-patient interactions within oncology settings.

Conclusions:

• Gender is a significant factor influencing nurses' approaches to clinical, relational, humanistic, and comforting care in oncology.
• Further research should explore other individual characteristics like personality, personal values, and altruism that may shape caring attitudes.
• Understanding these influences can help tailor nursing education and support to enhance patient care quality.