Nurse-Patient Relationship Patterns: An Economic Resource

In this two-phase research study, we examined the nurse-patient relationship as an economic interpersonal resource. In Phase I, we used a grounded theory approach to generate data from interviews with nurses, patients, and administrators for the purpose of delineating categories (patterns of interaction and cost parameters) for questionnaire development. Phase II included developing an instrument (questionnaire) that measures attributes of the nurse-patient relationship as an economic interpersonal resource. This study was the first of three to be conducted over a 3-year time frame.

Following completion of this first study, application for further funding was submitted. Study 2 will consist of conducting pre-pilot and pilot studies to establish the reliability and validity of the newly developed instrument (see Appendix C). Power analyses will be calculated to determine sample size, and factor analyses will be used to cluster variables associated with the instrument categories. Study 3 will be a quantitative study Using regression analysis to determine whether nurse-patient relationships correlate with patient outcomes (health, well-being, a satisfaction, and cost). As in the current study, studies 2 and 3 will involve securing a sample from military and non-military health care facilities. Knowledge derived from this research will contribute to understanding the operational issues of managed care in the tri-service military and civilian sectors.

The long-term goal of this research is to establish the nurse-patient relationship as an economic interpersonal resource. To date, investigation of the economic dimension of the nurse-patient relationship has not been explicated fully in published nursing research, but knowledge of this dimension should be extremely valuable in efforts to link cost and quality in current health care environments whether in the federal, public, or private sector.

Final report is available on NTRL at: https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/PB2007107635.xhtml