Impact of satisfaction, nurse-patient interactions and perceived benefits on health behaviors following a cardiac event.
OBJECTIVE
To describe patient perceptions of quality and satisfaction with nursing care, nurse-patient interactions and barriers to and benefits of implementing a healthy lifestyle.


METHODS
A pretest-posttest cross-sectional correlational research design was used. Subjects were randomly selected between November 2001 and January 2002 from patients admitted to the National Institute of Cardiology in Budapest, Hungary. Participants completed 3 self-reported measures and a demographic survey, which assessed individual lifestyle behaviors (e.g. frequency of smoking, physical activity, stress and unhealthy dieting).


RESULTS
Satisfaction with nursing care and nurse-patient interactions influenced both perceived benefits and barriers. Patient satisfaction and perceived benefits at discharge were associated with more frequent exercising and less smoking. Among other factors, perceived benefits at discharge were predicted by attentive nurse behaviors toward patients and by patients' ability to initiate discussion with nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support effects of patient satisfaction and nurse-patient relationships on perceived benefits/barriers. Compared to barriers, perceived benefits more importantly determined health behaviors. Attentive nursing care and the patient's ability to discuss health concerns with nurses appear more influential in modifying patient perceptions. Exploring nursing interventions to maximize perceived benefits during hospitalization is suggested.
Zrinyi
Miklos
M
World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. zrinyim@who.int
Horvath
Teodora
T
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires