An investigation of the relationship between patient preferences for dimensions of nursing care and patient satisfaction with nursing car

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of patient preferences for dimensions of nursing care and patient satisfaction with nursing care in a heterogeneous, voluntary sample of men and women (n = 140) receiving blood pressure screening at an urban university campus. Choice theory was the theoretical framework. Choice theory implies that when individuals have the opportunity to choose their preferences, satisfaction is highest because their preferred choice is their most useful choice.;A quasi-experimental design was used to test the relationship between the independent variable, patient preference for a dimension of nursing care, and the dependent variable, patient satisfaction with nursing care. Patient satisfaction with nursing care was measured by the Patient Satisfaction Scale. Patient preferences for a dimension of nursing care were measured by asking participants to complete a Patient Preference Form.;The research hypothesis in this study was that patients whose preferences for different dimensions of nursing care are elicited and incorporated into their nursing care will be more satisfied with their nursing care than patients whose preferences for different dimensions of nursing care are elicited and not incorporated into their nursing care. The research hypothesis was tested by conducting an independent groups t test of the mean overall patient satisfaction scores between those participants who received the nursing care that incorporated their preference and those participants who did not receive the nursing care that incorporated their preference. The research hypothesis was not supported.;One explanation for the lack of statistical findings was the poor construct validity of the Patient Satisfaction Scale. Another explanation was that 95.5% of the participants perceived that they had received the nursing care of their choice when, in fact, only 39.3% of the participants had received the nursing care of their choice. One recommendation for future research included the use of a method of eliciting patient preferences, such as the discrete choice experiment, that incorporates the concept of tradeoffs. Another recommendation included the use of regression analysis to measure patient satisfaction with nursing care.