Use of Social Networks among Nurses and its Relationship with Quality of Nursing Cares and Patients Satisfaction in Medical Wards of Tabriz

Abstract

Abstract: Background and purpose: The quality of nursing care is one of the most important factors affecting the satisfaction of patient in health care center. Several factors, including use of social networks, affect the quality of nursing care. internet and social networking technologies, has become a means of communication and knowledge-sharing. Social networks technology has revolutionized in communications and this technology is one of the most well-known and popular instruments for creating and maintaining social relationships. The aim of this study was to determine use of social networks among Nurses and its relationship with quality of nursing cares and Patients satisfaction admitted to educational and therapeutic centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

Methods: This study was a descriptive correlation study conducted with the participation of 197 nurses and 197 qualified patients in 2016 in 17 medical wards of the hospitals affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Nurses were sampled by the census method. In this study for each nurse a patient was selected randomly from the same ward. The data collection tools were the use of social network questionnaire, the Quality patient care scale(QUALPAC) and patient satisfaction with lamonica-oberst patient satisfaction scale questionnaire. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and pearson correlation coefficient tests in the software SPSS version 13.

Results: the mean score of nurses use of social networking was 45.01+_11.82(32-96), the mean score of nurses quality care was 169.71+_20.94(67-201) and the mean score of patients satisfaction was 187.31+_21.76(41-287). the results showed there was significant relationship between the mean scores of nurses use of social network and quality of nursing care. (r=0.231) ،p=0.005)). the results of the pearson correlation coefficient showed that there was no significant relationship between the mean of patient satisfaction with nursing care quality in hospitals affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. (r=-0.028 ، P=0.698) Conclusion: The majority of the nurses in this study use social networks (75.63%), with the highest score in the use of network, the higher score in the physical dimension and the lower score in the psychosocial dimension. They believed that the correct use of social networks can improve their performance, but sometimes some of the rules in the workplace do not consider the use of networks at the right time. Therefore, policy makers in the health system should be able to change or modify the barriers facing nurses. Regarding the quality of nursing care, the majority of nurses also rated the quality of nursing care as desirable, as most of the patients in the study had moderate satisfaction with nursing services. This difference seems to be due to the difference in patients 'and nurses' views on the quality of care.