Evaluation of Intensive Care Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Care-focused Nurse-patient Interaction Along Associated Factors

Background Intensive care units, where critically ill patients are treated, are dynamic units equipped with high technology. The quality of intensive care is greatly dependent on the effectiveness and quality of nursing care. The level of ongoing verbal and behavioral interaction between the nurse and the patient affects the quality of care of an intensive care unit. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and behaviours of intensive care nurses towards care-focused nurse-patient interaction along with associated factors. Research design and methods: The research group includes nurses working in intensive care units of a university hospital on the European side of Istanbul and in intensive care units of a state hospital located in the same region, under cov-19 pandemic conditions. The study data were collected using the “Nurse Information Form” and the importance dimension and 10 subscales of the “Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale” (CNPI). Ethical considerations: Research ethics approval was obtained, and the participants provided informed consent. Results It was found that the nurses’ average age was 31,25 ± 6,97 and that their mean length of service in the intensive care unit was 4,87 ± 3,58 years. It was determined that 80,4% of the participants themselves chose to work in intensive care and that 44,1% were able to establish team collaboration in intensive care. During pandemic 69,6% nurses worked 40 hours or more per week. In the study, the total score for the importance dimension of the Caring Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale was found to be 274,87 ± 44,98. It was determined that not choosing to work in intensive care decreased the total importance score 29,8-fold and that failure to establish team collaboration decreased the same total score 31-fold. Conclusions In this study conducted during the pandemic, it was determined that the attitudes and behaviours of nurses regarding care-focused nurse-patient interaction were “positive” and that 78% of them considered this interaction “important”. It was found that team collaboration affected hope, sensitivity and problem-solving skill in nurse-patient interaction. It was concluded that in order to strengthen care-focused nurse-patient interaction, the choice of working in intensive care should be left to the nurse, that duties and powers should be clarified in accordance with ethical principles, and that, ensuring team collaboration under all circumstances.