Abstract
Background: Nursing care quality is a critical determinant of patient outcomes, particularly in hospital settings where nurses play a central role in direct patient care. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly recognized as essential indicators of healthcare quality, reflecting patients’ perceptions of their health status and care experiences. However, limited evidence exists regarding this relationship in public sector hospitals of Pakistan.
Objective: To assess the association between nursing care quality and patient-reported outcomes among hospitalized patients in public sector hospitals of Pakistan.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 registered nurses working in inpatient departments of selected public hospitals. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire comprising demographic variables, a nursing care quality scale, and a patient-reported outcomes scale. Reliability of the instrument was confirmed with Cronbach’s alpha values above 0.80. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, applying descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and chi-square tests, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.
Results: The majority of nurses (65.7%) reported high levels of nursing care quality, while 61% indicated good patient-reported outcomes. A strong positive correlation was found between nursing care quality and patient-reported outcomes (r = 0.68, p < 0.001). Significant associations were observed between nursing care quality and demographic variables such as age, education, and experience (p < 0.05), while gender showed no significant association.
Conclusion: Nursing care quality significantly influences patient-reported outcomes. Enhancing nursing education, training, and workplace support can improve care quality and patient outcomes in public sector hospitals of Pakistan.