Perception of caring behaviors of patients and oncology nursing: comparative study

Abstract

Objective. This work sought to describe and compare the perception of caring behavior of patients and nursing staff in services at a reference oncological institution in Bogotá - Hospitalization, Hematology, and Emergency. Methodology. This was a descriptive comparative study conducted with131 patients and 78 members from the nursing staff in three oncology services. The perception of carewas evaluated with Homer’s Professional Caring Behaviors Instrument. Comparison was performedthrough non-parametric tests. Results. Patients were on average 54 years of age, mostly females,independent, with low schooling and presented a perception of nursing care behaviors of 77.3%, withhematology averaging better (81.3%), followed by internal medicine (77.3%) and lower in emergency(73.3%). They perceive, in order, attributes of courtesy, relationship, commitment, and interaction.The nursing staff were 19% professionals, 81% aides, mostly females with over six years experience,presented perception of caring behaviors of 85.9% and similar in the three services. Conclusion. Thecharacteristics of patients and of the nursing staff in the different services are similar. For patients,the perception of nursing care behaviors per total services and in the dimensions of interaction andcommitment is positive and different (p < 0.05). For the nursing staff, the perception of caring behaviorsis similar among services and above that of the patients in their totality and in the dimensions ofcourtesy and interaction.