Cross-Sectional Studies, Nursing, Nursing Care, Patient-Centered Care, Patient Satisfaction
Conditions
Keywords
Patient Satisfaction, Nursing, Nursing Care, Patient-Centered Care, Cross-Sectional Study, Healthcare Quality, Patient Experience
Brief summary
The general aim of this study is to assess and analyze the level of patient satisfaction with nursing care among inpatients in the ordinary wards of the AOU Maggiore della Carità in Novara (Italy). Using the validated Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales (NSNS), the study intends to produce reliable and comparable data that reflect patients' perceived quality of care across multiple dimensions, including relationships, emotional support, information, and time devoted by nurses. The study aims to provide an updated overview of patient experiences, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. These results will offer guidance for organizational and educational strategies to promote more personalized, human-centered nursing care aligned with international quality and safety recommendations, without altering routine clinical practice.
Detailed description
Background: Patient satisfaction is increasingly recognized as a key indicator of healthcare quality, complementing traditional clinical outcomes. It influences treatment adherence, the patient-provider relationship, length of hospital stay, occurrence of adverse events, and overall trust in healthcare institutions. Satisfaction is a multidimensional construct shaped by individual, environmental, and organizational factors, with communication and relational skills of nursing staff playing a central role. Personalized care and patient empowerment are essential determinants of a positive care experience. The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales (NSNS), in its validated Italian version, provides a systematic and reliable method to assess patient perceptions of nursing care, allowing comparisons across wards and clinical contexts. Study Objectives: This study aims to systematically capture patients' perceptions of nursing care in the ordinary wards of AOU Maggiore della Carità, identifying strengths and opportunities for improvement. Primary Objective: To evaluate overall patient satisfaction with nursing care, exploring how individual characteristics and organizational factors may influence perceived quality. Secondary Objective: To examine potential differences in patient satisfaction related to organizational and staffing characteristics. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study. Data will be collected using the self-administered, anonymous NSNS questionnaire during ordinary hospitalization. Trained personnel will distribute and collect the questionnaires without influencing responses. No experimental interventions or digital tools will be used; the study relies on this standardized instrument to capture patients' experiences. Data Handling and Analysis: Data will be managed in accordance with privacy regulations and stored anonymously. Analyses will summarize patient and organizational characteristics and explore relationships between perceived quality of nursing care and relevant influencing factors. Results will be reported in aggregate to identify overall trends and insights useful for improving nursing practice. Ethical Considerations: The study protocol was approved by the Inter-institutional Ethics Committee of AOU Maggiore della Carità. All participants will provide informed consent, and any protocol amendments will be reported to the Ethics Committee. Conclusions: This study will provide a systematic assessment of patient satisfaction with nursing care in ordinary wards, generating reliable and comparable data on patient perceptions. Findings will inform organizational strategies and training initiatives aimed at promoting human-centered, personalized, and high-quality nursing care, ultimately enhancing patient experiences and outcomes.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale Amedeo Avogadro
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carita
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adult inpatients (age ≥ 18 years) admitted to ordinary wards of AOU Maggiore della Carità. * Hospitalization for at least 48 hours at the time of questionnaire administration. * Able to provide informed consent. * Able to understand and speak Italian.
Exclusion criteria
* Hospitalization shorter than 48 hours. * Age \< 18 years. * Cognitive impairment or clinical conditions preventing comprehension or autonomous completion of the questionnaire. * Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Patient Satisfaction With Nursing Care | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours of stay in ordinary wards. | Measured using the validated Italian version of the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales (NSNS), including all subscales: Carelessness, Emotional Support, Relationship and Information, and Caring Times. Participants rate items on 7-point and 5-point Likert scales as per NSNS protocol. Scores are summed and transformed to a 0-100 scale, where 100 indicates the highest possible satisfaction. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Patient age | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours of stay in ordinary wards | Age of the patient at the time of hospitalization. Used to describe associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Years |
| Patient sex | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours in ordinary wards | Biological sex of the patient, recorded to explore associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Categorical (Male / Female) |
| Employment status | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours in ordinary wards | Current employment status of the patient, recorded to explore associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Categorical (Employed / Unemployed / Retired / Other) |
| Presence of caregiver | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours in ordinary wards | Whether the patient has a primary caregiver available, recorded to explore associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Categorical (Yes / No) |
| Number of comorbidities | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours in ordinary wards | Count of diagnosed comorbid conditions for the patient, recorded to explore associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Count |
| Number of previous hospitalizations | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours in ordinary wards | Count of prior hospitalizations for the patient, recorded to explore associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Count |
| Nurse-to-patient ratio | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours in ordinary wards | Average number of nurses per patient on the ward during hospitalization, recorded to explore associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Nurses per patient (ratio) |
| Support staff availability | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours in ordinary wards | Number of support staff available on the ward during hospitalization, recorded to explore associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Staff members |
| Nursing Care model | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours in ordinary wards | Type of care model implemented in the ward, recorded to explore associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Categorical (Team nursing / Primary nursing / Functional nursing) |
| Nursing shift type | Single assessment during hospitalization, after at least 48 hours in ordinary wards | Type of nursing shift pattern in the ward, recorded to explore associations with overall patient satisfaction. Units of Measure: Categorical (8-hour / 12-hour / Rotating) |
Countries
Italy
Contacts
CONTACTChiara Gallione, PhD
CONTACTRita Maugeri, MSc in Nursing Management
STUDY_DIRECTORAlberto Dal Molin
AOU Maggiore della Carità - Novara; University of Piemonte Orientale
Outcome results
None listed