Respect and its associated factors as perceived by older patients

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate older hospital patients' perceptions of respect in a patient-nurse relationship and its associated factors. BACKGROUND: To be cared for with respect is fundamental to ethical nursing care. However, respect has seldom been a main topic of nursing research, and few of these studies have assessed older patients' perceptions of being respected by nurses alongside associated factors. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational survey design. METHODS: Hospitalised older patients (n = 200) were interviewed using the ReSpect Scale, measuring respect within the nurse-patient relationship, the EuroQol 5D-5L, measuring perceived health status, and the Patient Satisfaction Scale, measuring satisfaction with nursing care. Sociodemographic characteristics were also collected. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, the t test and analysis of variance. The STROBE Statement was used for reporting this research. RESULTS: Older patients reported moderate levels of perceived respect in their patient-nurse relationships. A statistically significant, strong positive correlation between patient satisfaction and their perceptions of respect was found. Poor perceived health status was also statistically significantly associated with older patients' perceptions of respect. No statistically significant associations between patients' other sociodemographic characteristics and their perceptions of respect were found. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of factors and their associations with respect is a basic step towards theory generation. Further empirical research is needed to test the preliminary associations found in this study to further develop the current understanding of respect and its associated factors. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The older patients' perceptions of respect highlighted in this study show the need for the further consideration, reflection and development of this important aspect of the relationship between patients and nurses. The identification and measurement of respect and its associated factors may help to improve respect in nursing care making it more visible in the care of older people.