title: [Empirical studies of care in nursing].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The scope of the term "care" and of related "caring" and "nursing care" is implicated in the range of relevant research. By measuring variables assigned to structural elements of care it is possible to undertake empirical verifications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This work was undertaken to present and analyze the existing research tools used for measuring care/caring in nursing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our analysis of the existing research tools for measuring care/caring was done according to the criterion of specificity and distinctiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Research tools used for measuring care/caring in nursing comprise items belonging to two basic--technical and emotional--dimensions. Data are collected from the patient, the nurse, or the observer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The comparability of measurements of care variables is achievable only if reliable tools are used in nursing research.
authors.affiliation: Katedra Rozwoju Pielegniarstwa Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lublinie al. Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin.
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zarzycka
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Slusarska
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dobrowolska
mesh_terms: D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011044:Poland