Patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviours and determinant factors at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialised Hospital in Debre Tabor city, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional survey

Objective This study aimed to investigate patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviours and their determinant factors at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialised Hospital (DTCSH) in Debre Tabor city, Ethiopia. Design A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 474 patients admitted to the inpatient ward. Setting The study was conducted at DTCSH in Debre Tabor city. Participants Patients were admitted to the inpatient ward at DTCSH. Intervention No intervention was needed in this study. Primary and secondary outcome measures Binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviours. The OR with a 95% CI and a p value of <0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Results Overall, 37.4% of patients had poor perceptions of nurse caring behaviours. Waiting day in the ward (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.3; 95% CI (1.6 to 6.4) and (3.4; 95% CI (2.1 to 10.7)), residence (AOR=2; 95% CI (1.3 to 4.4)), education level (AOR=1.2; 95% CI (1.12 to 3.42)), and spent time with nurses (AOR=1.7; 95% CI (1.38 to 5.31)) were identified as determinants of patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviours. Conclusion The proportions of patients’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviours were poor. Waiting time in the wards, being an urban resident, educational level and time spent with nurses were identified as determinant factors of poor perceptions of patients on nurse caring behaviours. Therefore, hospital management, nursing directors and nursing staff should collaborate to foster better interactions between patients and nurses.