Patients’ Expectations and Experiences of Nursing Care at a Specialized Hospital in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Patient expectations refer to individuals’ beliefs and anticipations regarding nursing care during hospitalization, shaped by culture, prior experience, and social norms. Patient experiences represent the actual quality of nursing interactions, including communication, responsiveness, and technical care. Discrepancies between expectations and experiences can significantly impact patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Objectives: To describe and examine the relationship between patients’ expectations and experience of nursing care at a specialized hospital in Bangladesh.

Methods: A correlational study was conducted at the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH), Dhaka, among 114 conveniently selected admitted patients. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using the patient expectations of nursing care and patient experiences of nursing care related questionnaires to measure the patients’ expectations and experiences of nursing care, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The mean age of patients was 43.18 years. Patients reported higher expectations across all dimensions of nursing care, with a mean score of 3.71 out of 4 across the 21 items. The overall mean score for patients’ experiences of nursing care indicated a moderate level. A significant positive correlation was found between patients' expectations and experiences (r = 0.375, p < 0.001), suggesting that patients with higher expectations reported more favorable experiences.

Conclusion: Patient expectations were found to be higher than their experience of nursing care. Lower experience was reported in communication, emotional support, and responsiveness. Strengthening these aspects through relationship-based care is essential for enhancing patient-centred nursing practice in Bangladesh.