Research Article

AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

Volume: 12 Number: 3 September 30, 2026
EN TR

AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the acuity levels of patients in inpatient wards and the quality of nursing care. Methods: This study is descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional in nature. Data were collected using the “Nurse-Patient Introduction Form,” the “Perroca Patient Classification Instrument-Turkish Form-Expanded,” and the “Quality Nursing Care Scale-Turkish.” Without using any sampling method, 120 nurses who volunteered to participate in the study and a total of 506 patients cared for by these nurses on the data collection day were included in the study. It was conducted between February 1 and March 1, 2025. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was applied to determine the differences between the groups. Results: The average age of the nurses participating in the study was 34.82 years, with an average professional experience of 12.24 years; the average age of the patients was 59.38 years, and the average length of stay was 5.37 days. It was determined that most patients in the wards were at Type 2 acuity level and that nursing care requirements differed according to care areas. A statistically significant difference was found between patient acuity levels and quality nursing care only in the nursing dimension; no significant difference was found in the physical environment and patient outcomes dimensions. Conclusion: This study found that patients in inpatient wards differed in their acuity levels; however, the perceived quality of care provided by nurses did not show a significant change based on patients' acuity levels, except for the physical environment sub-dimension.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

There is no supporting organization

Ethical Statement

Prior to the research, permission was obtained from the Istanbul Okan University Ethics Committee (E.206695) and institutional approval was obtained from the hospital where the study was conducted

Thanks

We would like to thank all the nurses who contributed to this study.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Services and Systems (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

March 11, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 11, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 3

APA
Karabacak, F., & Ayan, G. (2026). AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 12(3), 185-190. https://doi.org/10.30934/kusbed.1906676
AMA
1.Karabacak F, Ayan G. AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH. KOU Sag Bil Derg. 2026;12(3):185-190. doi:10.30934/kusbed.1906676
Chicago
Karabacak, Fulya, and Güzin Ayan. 2026. “AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH”. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 12 (3): 185-90. https://doi.org/10.30934/kusbed.1906676.
EndNote
Karabacak F, Ayan G (September 1, 2026) AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 12 3 185–190.
IEEE
[1]F. Karabacak and G. Ayan, “AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH”, KOU Sag Bil Derg, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 185–190, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.30934/kusbed.1906676.
ISNAD
Karabacak, Fulya - Ayan, Güzin. “AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH”. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 12/3 (September 1, 2026): 185-190. https://doi.org/10.30934/kusbed.1906676.
JAMA
1.Karabacak F, Ayan G. AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH. KOU Sag Bil Derg. 2026;12:185–190.
MLA
Karabacak, Fulya, and Güzin Ayan. “AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH”. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 12, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 185-90, doi:10.30934/kusbed.1906676.
Vancouver
1.Fulya Karabacak, Güzin Ayan. AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVELS OF ACUITY PATIENTS IN INPATIENT WARDS AND THE QUALITY OF NURSING CARE: DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH. KOU Sag Bil Derg. 2026 Sep. 1;12(3):185-90. doi:10.30934/kusbed.1906676