Caring behavior: perspectives from nurses and parents of hospitalized children.

Background: The active presence of parents during the care and treatment of children in the hospital serves a crucial role in care provision. Considering the perspective on caring behavior from both nurses and clients is essential for planning and enhancing the quality of nursing care. This study assessed nurses' and parents' perceptions of nursing care.

Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between December 2022 and June 2023 at a tertiary pediatric referral hospital in Iran, involving 115 nurses and 115 parents. Demographic data and responses to Wolff's Caring Behavior Questionnaire were collected during morning and evening shifts, with questionnaires retrieved at the end of each shift. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.

Result: Nurses' perception yielded an average caring behavior's score of 234.37±15.25, whereas parents' perception averaged 213.01±43.7. A statistically significant difference was observed between nurses' and parents' average scores of caring behavior perception (p<0.001). The highest average scores for caring behavior perception dimensions were associated with attentiveness to others' experiences and professional knowledge and skills among nurses and parents. A statistically significant difference (p<0.001) existed between nurses and parents across all domains. Also, age, insurance coverage of families, and working stability of nurses exhibited significant associations with their perception of caring behavior.

Conclusion: Although nurses and parents reported above-average caring behavior scores were above average, nurses exhibited significantly higher levels. Misalignment in parents' perceptions may stem from specific familial challenges influencing their interpretation of nursing care. Hospital and nursing leadership should consider strategies to strengthen caring behaviors among nurses. Enhancing role clarity may align service recipients' expectations with professional responsibilities. Furthermore, improving nurses' job stability is essential to support consistent and effective caring behavior.