Parents, spouses, and children of hospitalized patients: evaluation of nursing care.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study of the effect of kinship type and gender on family members' evaluation of nursing care for patients and their families in hospital units.

Background: With increasing competition in the healthcare system, hospitals attribute great importance to client satisfaction, which is strongly related to the quality of nursing care. However, to date there has been little research into family members' evaluation of nursing care.

Methods: Questionnaires were administered to spouses, parents and children (n = 441) of hospitalized patients in three Israeli hospitals during 2007-2008.

Results: Kinship type interacted with gender in affecting family members' evaluation of the quality of nursing care. Among men, husbands were the most satisfied with nursing behaviour, treatment of the patients, and the information they receive. Fathers were the least satisfied. Overall family evaluation of the service was predicted by their evaluation of caring, treatment, and the patient's environment; departmental reputation was predicted by evaluation of treatment.

Conclusion: Nurses should be trained to develop sensitivity to the diverse expectations and needs of relatives, as well as awareness of how their own preconceptions affect their behaviour toward patients' families. Nurses should develop self-awareness of possible stereotypes and prejudices that may bias their behaviour towards family members. Reactions of family members should also be included in surveys of client satisfaction with nursing care.