Viewpoints of Nurses toward Prosocial Tendencies at the Teaching Hospitals Affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background & Aims: Provision of proper care by nurses without considering their prosocial tendencies is not possible. This concept is an important component of nursing care quality. The present study aimed to determine the prosocial tendencies among nurses. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was on 200 nurses employed in four teaching hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. The participants were selected via quota sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and validated and reliable prosocial tendencies scale by Carlo et al. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 19 using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: The mean total score of prosocial tendencies in the nurses was 88.9±15.74. Among the prosocial tendencies, unknown dimensions (3.81±0.88), critical dimension (3.72±0.92), emotional dimension (3.72±1.1), compliant dimension (3.68±0.78), and altruistic tendencies (3.15±0.82) had the highest to the lowest mean scores, respectively. No significant correlations were observed between the demographic data and prosocial tendencies. Conclusion: Nursing managers must recognize the elements involved in the prosocial tendencies of nurses in order to promote the quality of nursing care. Among these tendencies, the strengthening of the altruistic tendency for nurses should be more prominent, which could be achieved through implementing workshops in this regard.

Keywords

• prosocial tendencies
• nurse
• care
• altruism