The relationship between cancer patients’ perception of nursing care and nursing attitudes towards nursing profession

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to evaluate the patients' perceptions of nursing care with different types of cancer in Turkey and its relationship with nursing attitudes towards nursing profession. METHODS An exploratory approach utilizing cross-sectional design with a structured questionnaire, administered to patients nurses a face-to-face, with specific questions about demographic and health status and two standardized scales: Patient Perception of Hospital Experience with Nursing Care (PPHEN) and Attitude Scale for Nursing Profession (ASNP). This study was conducted at the Research and Application Hospital of Ataturk University in Erzurum, Turkey with a convenience sample of 100 patients who were discharged from medical and radiation oncology clinics and 30 nurses that give care to these patients. RESULTS It was found that patients' satisfaction had low levels with nursing care and similarly the nurses' attitudes from nursing profession were negative. There was a high correlation between the scales. CONCLUSION The nurses' attitudes towards nursing profession are affecting the nursing care of patients' perception with cancer. We suggest that the researchers must be evaluating nurse's attitudes when they determine the patient perceptions of nursing care.