title: Organizational influences on patient perceptions of symptom management.
abstract: We tested a theoretical model of the relationships of hospital context, nursing unit structure, and patient characteristics to patients' perceptions of the extent to which nurses met their expectations for management of troubling symptoms. In our sample of 2,720 patients randomly selected from 278 nursing units in 143 hospitals, we found that patient age was positively associated with patients' perceptions of symptom management. The proportion of registered nurses as caregivers on the unit was not a significant predictor of symptom management, but better work conditions on the unit (nurses' autonomy, participation in decision-making, and collaboration with other disciplines [relational coordination]) significantly contributed to patients' perceptions of better symptom management.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia Thornton
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mark
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D015279:Organizational Culture; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology