The Comparison among perspective of doctors, nurses and patients towards nursing advocacy role

Patient advocacy is one of the most controversial issues in nursing during recent two decades. The purpose of this study was to determine perspective of doctors, nurses and patients towards the advocacy role of nurses about patients in hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.

This descriptive- comparative study was conducted on a sample of 329 doctors and 345 nurses and 225 patients, selected by a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a Nursing-Advocacy-Perspective-Scale. The content and construct validity as well as internal consistency and test-retest reliability method were assessed and confirmed beforehand. The data was analyzed using SPSS 16 and statistical tests at the significant level of P<0.05.

There was a significant difference among the three groups in average scores perspective (p<0/05). Average scores of patients were higher than nurses and doctors, and nurses average scores were significantly higher than physician (p<0/05).

The nurse managers should promote the role of the facilitator and prevent loss of nursing advocacy and creating opportunities to provide this role in hospitals. In this regard the views of interest groups may help.