Abstract
Background: The hospitalization of a child is a highly stressful time for parents, often filled with fear and anxiety. Nurses are essential in providing emotional and informational support during this period. Parents’ perceptions of nursing support are key indicators of care quality and satisfaction, yet there is a lack of evidence from secondary-level hospitals in developing regions. This study aimed to assess parents' perceptions of nursing care provided to children under the age of five years admitted to the pediatric department at District Headquarters Hospital Mirpurkhas in province of Sindh.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the pediatric department of District Headquarters Hospital Mirpurkhas, from November 2025 to January 2026. A total of 130 parents of hospitalized children were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. The data was collected using a structured, translated questionnaire based on the Nurse-Parent Support Tool (NPST). Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27, utilizing descriptive statistical methods to sum up participants’ attributes and perception scores.
Results: Most participants were female (76%). Approximately half of the parents (49%) were aged 25–35 years. Involving socioeconomic status, 64.6% of participants reported a monthly income of less than PKR 30,000. The overall mean score of the Nurse-Parent Support Tool (NPST) shown a good level of perceived nursing support (X̄ = 3.79 ± 0.40). Emotional support domain of the NPST had the highest mean score (X̄ = 4.15 ± 0.89), demonstrating compelling parental perception of nurses’ emotional support.
Conclusion: This study determined that parents perceive nursing support in the pediatric department positively, with emotional care and responsiveness recognized as major strengths. These findings highlight the dire function of nurses in forming family experiences during pediatric hospitalization. Healthcare institutions should prioritize family-centered nursing models, and structured nurse–parent communication. Incorporating these practices into institutional policies and pediatric care standards may lead to improved care experiences and outcomes for hospitalized children and their families.