Comparative Assessment of Nurse Caring Behaviours and Patient Satisfaction between Chronic and Acute Patients following Surgical Treatment

Background: Patients suffering from chronic disease tend to have a quality of life significantly different from patients surgically treated due to post-traumatic injuries. Thus, both groups might perceive nurse caring behaviours and patient satisfaction differently, valuing distinct technical and quality features of their hospital care.

Objective: The present study aimed to assess nurse caring behaviours perceived by two distinct groups of patients followed post-traumatic surgeries, and its correlation to patient satisfaction.

Methods: Clinical data of patients admitted in orthopaedics trauma and microsurgery’s department between January 2022 and February 2023, and treated for diabetic foot ulcer or traumatic injury of foot and/or ankle, due to traffic accident and crush injury, were analysed. The study enrolled 50 patients, and 25 patients were controlled randomized in each group (diabetic foot ulcer cohort vs trauma cohort). Nurse caring behaviours inventory-24 (CBI-24), patient satisfaction index (PSI), Numeric rating scale for pain, and hospital length of stay were recorded, analysed and compared between both groups.

Results: The mean age differed significantly between diabetic foot ulcer and trauma cohort patients (53 vs. 38, respectively, p < 0.001), while body mass index and aetiology side were not significantly different between both groups (p > 0.05, both). The overall mean score of CBI-24 did not significantly differ between DFU and trauma cohort (4.77±0.5 vs 4.96±0.5, respectively). However, both groups significantly differed in all technical caring behaviours (p < 0.001). Technical professional subscale of PSI and mean hospital length of stay were found statistically different between both groups. Moreover, CBI-24 and PSI were significantly correlated within each group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Significant difference was observed in CBI-24 and PSI subscales between both groups, with a significant correlation between the two concepts within each group. Patients undergoing diabetic foot ulcer surgical treatment are more likely to highly perceive technical caring behaviours, while patients with traumatic injury of foot and/or ankle, due to traffic accident and/or crush injury tend likely to value quality of caring behaviours.