The relationship between nursing care perception and nurses' communication skills: from the perspective of inpatients - a cross-sectional study.

Effective communication skills among nurses, coupled with high-quality nursing care, are essential components of healthcare services. Both communication and care are abstract, multifaceted processes that are uniquely perceived by patients, with their effects directly impacting patient experiences. Thus, understanding patient perspectives is vital for delivering high-quality, patient-centered healthcare. This study aimed to examine inpatients' perceptions of nursing care, assess their views on nurses' communication skills, and explore the relationship between these perceptions. This cross-sectional descriptive study involved 384 Turkish patients from February to July 2022. The study followed the STROBE guidelines. The data were collected by using the Personal Information Form, Patient Perception of Nursing Care Scale, and Health Care Communication Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kruskal‒Wallis test, the Mann‒Whitney U test, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analyses. The mean total score on the Health Care Communication Questionnaire was 55.55 ± 8.55, and the mean score on the Nursing Care Perception Scale was 68.04 ± 10. As the length of hospital stay increased, patients evaluated nurses' communication positively, and male patients were significantly more satisfied with nursing care than female patients were (p < 0.05). A positive, significant, and intermediate relationship was found between patients' perceptions of total nursing care and health care communication (r = .431, p < 0.05). Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the sub-dimensions of problem solving and respect significantly predicted perceived nursing care (p < .01), explaining 18.6% of the variance (R2 = .186). In contrast, nonverbal immediacy and lack of hostility were not significant predictors. Overall, patients viewed nurses' communication skills and nursing services positively. Regular assessment of perceived service quality in healthcare facilities may support more efficient resource allocation and enhance patient satisfaction.