Assessment of Therapeutic Communication and Patients Satisfaction toward Nursing Care.

Abstract

Background: Patient satisfaction is a primary indicator of healthcare quality. Effective nurse-patient therapeutic communication enhances satisfaction and leads to improved health outcomes. Furthermore, nurse-patient communication plays a vital role in improving not only the patient's relationship with the nurse but also the patient's own perception of the treatment process and outcome. Moreover, possessing practical communication skills is essential for healthcare providers' practice and their ability to understand the clinical symptoms, as well as the psychological and emotional needs of their patients. Aim: To investigate the relationship between therapeutic communication and patient satisfaction toward nursing care. Design: A descriptive correlational research design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: This study was conducted at Al Rahmaniya Central Hospital, collecting from all inpatient care units (n=6) as follows: obstetric, general medical, general surgical, isolation for COVID-19, dialysis, and general intensive care. Subjects: Two groups: All staff nurses who were working in the previously mentioned setting(n=200) and Patients attending the previously mentioned settings at discharge time(n=400). Tools: Two tools were used. Tool one: "Nurse-Patient Therapeutic Communication Sheet ."Tool two: "La Monica Oberst Patient Satisfaction Scale ". Results: The majority of nurses (72.5%) had moderate therapeutic communication levels, while 94.5% of patients reported moderate satisfaction. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between total therapeutic communication and total satisfaction (r = 0.714, p = 0.026). The dimensions of therapeutic communication (professional, contextual, and patient-centered) are also significantly correlated with patient satisfaction. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that there were positive, highly statistically significant correlations between total therapeutic communication and patient satisfaction. Recommendations: Conduct regular training programs and a series of workshops on therapeutic communication skills for staff nurses and provide a supportive environment that allows for adequate time and resources.