PERCEPTION ON "CARING" PATIENTS, NURSES, PHYSICIANS AND ADMINISTRATORS

Morrison (1991) states that the caring concept remains a poorly defined concept in nursing practice.

The purpose of this study is to find out the operational & conceptual definitions of the term "caring" in Pakistani culture, from clients' & health care teams' points of view. This study has a descriptive & qualitative approach. The study has conducted at AKUH of Medical Surgical Units. Sample size for patients were 25, 15 for nurses, 5 for physicians & 5 for administrators. Patients were selected at r&om through medical record numbers & the nurses through the monthly rosters. Administrators & physicians were selected on the basis of convenience. Two types of questionnaire introduced which have been adapted from "Caring Ability Inventory Open Ended Questionnaire", by Ngozi O Nkongho (1990)". Validity & reliability of this instrument is satisfactorily pre-established. Data is collected through one to one interviewing & recorded through written & verbatim. Data was analyzed by content analysis of different themes; Data analysis is based on common/similar perception as well as perceptions, which seemed specific to patients, nurses, physicians & or administrators. It was recommended that training in human & moral issue should be the part of nursing & medical curriculum. Selection of nurses, medical students & other employees coming directly in contact with patients should be screened on the basis of indicators of innate caring behavior.