Nurses’ Level of Awareness of Patients’ Rights in Hospitals

Abstract

This research evaluated the awareness levels of nursing staff concerning patients’ rights in Yemeni hospitals. Using a descriptive cross-sectional approach, the research employed a simple random sampling technique to enlist 384 nursing personnel across four hospitals situated in Sana’a, Yemen. A questionnaire based on the Yemeni Patients’ Rights Charter and relevant literature on patients’ rights was employed to gather data. The findings revealed a high overall awareness level among nursing staff regarding patients’ rights, with a mean of 84.4%. The special right dimension exhibited the highest awareness level (88%), while the knowledge dimension recorded the lowest level (79%). The investigation identified no statistically significant variations in awareness levels attributable to demographic factors such as gender, marital status, age, occupation, experience, and educational qualifications. However, differences were observed in awareness levels based on the hospital type, as private hospitals displayed higher awareness than government hospitals. The results underscore the necessity for tailored educational initiatives targeting nursing staff to address identified knowledge gaps, particularly in government hospitals. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of safeguarding patients’ property against theft, damage, and loss by educating nursing staff on patients’ right to know the identity and qualifications of healthcare providers - a crucial aspect of patients’ rights that nursing staff must be cognizant of to ensure quality care provision.