NURSING STUDENTS AND CARE RECEIVERS' PERCEPTIONS OF CARING BEHAVIOR

Abstract

Objective: To analyze nursing students and care receiver's perceptions of caring behavior. Method: Descriptive study carried out in 2012, on nursing students' internship and care receivers from three institutions of higher education located in Concepción, Chile. Data were collected from a sample of 96 interns and 96 care receivers. Caring Behaviours Inventory (CBI) developed by Zane Wolf and based on the theory of human caring proposed by Jean Watson, was used in a version for students and another of users. Results: Students aged 21 to 33 years who studied between 8 and 6 years before reaching the fifth level. Students from the university 2 and 3 performed a practice in general services while the students of university 1 did it in (health) specialist units. The average age of the users was 54.6 years old. In relation to the behaviors of the care provided, refered by interns there was an overestimation of the students' perceptions about the care provided above the perception reported by the users for dimensions 1, 2 and 5. In dimension 4, "professional knowledge and skills", the students form universities 2 and 3 underestimate their caring behaviors in relation to the users' perception. Conclusion: Users would be able to assertively evaluate behaviors of humanized care in the dimensions 1, 2, 3, and 5. But concerning dimension 4 "professional knowledge and skills", would not.