Job Satisfaction of Nursing Staff and Patients’ Perception of Quality care in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital, Odisha

Background: Globally in all health care systems, major changes have taken place such as: cost effective care, early hospital discharge and high burden of patients with acute and chronic diseases. These escalating changes in health care systems influence quality of care, job satisfaction of nurses and patients perception of care. The aim of the study was to find the relationship between job satisfaction of nursing staff and patients 'perception of the quality of care.

Methods: A co relational study was undertaken among 384 patients and 141 staff nurses in a tertiary teaching hospital Odisha, India within a 3 months period. RHCS questionnaire consists of 42-items was used to measure patients' perception of quality care and KUHJSS consist of 37-items was used to measure job satisfaction of nursing staff. Date was analysed to find out the related factors and relationship between job satisfaction of nursing staff and patients perception of quality care.

Results: Patients' perception of overall quality care positively related to general job satisfaction of nursing staff. The highest job satisfaction levels of quality care were reported by older patients, patients who were in OPD units and patients from rural settings. Also the highest job satisfaction levels were reported by nurses over 51 years of age, nursing leaders, nurses with less than one year or more than 21 years of total work experience, and day shift workers.

Conclusions: Generally job satisfaction of nursing staff is an important aspect for quality care, as evaluated by the patients. It is vital to support the well-being of staff because this has the potential to improve patients' perceptions of quality care.