Explaining Nursing Students' Perceptions of the Importance of Caring Behaviors: A Mixed‐Methods Study

Background and Aims Attitudes associated with caring behaviors (CBs) are critical for ensuring high‐quality nursing care. This study aimed to explore nursing students' perceptions of their importance. Methods This mixed‐methods study was conducted using the sequential explanatory design. In the quantitative phase, 117 nursing students out of those enrolled in the third and fourth years at the School of Nursing were selected via convenience sampling. The 35‐item Caring Dimensions Inventory (CDI‐35) was then completed by the students. After analyzing their scores, those obtaining low, moderate, and high mean values were purposively recruited for the qualitative phase of the study. Subsequently, 12 face‐to‐face, in‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted with the nursing students, and the data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results The nursing students had a high level of perceptions (94%) regarding the importance of CBs. The mean (SD) of CDI‐35 was 134.49 (10.67). In the qualitative phase, three main themes emerged: holistic care (including somatic care, palliative care, mental health care, spiritual care, and family‐centered care), respecting patient rights (such as confidentiality and truth‐telling), and barriers to effective care (including lack of professionalism, cultural insensitivity, and poor communication). Conclusion As evidenced, healthcare policymakers and clinical instructors should develop and implement appropriate CB training programs for nursing students to promote the quality of patient care services.