Examining the link between nurses' spiritual health and patients' satisfaction with nursing services in clinical units: a cross-sectional study in southwest Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Working conditions and occupational stress among nurses affect the quality of care and, consequently, patient satisfaction. Moreover, spiritual health among nurses is an essential component of healthcare services in achieving patient satisfaction. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between nurses' spiritual health and patients' satisfaction with nursing services (PSNS) provided in southwest Iran. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted among 80 nurses and their corresponding 80 patients in the clinical wards of Imam Khomeini and Razi Hospitals in Ahvaz in 2022. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires assessing spiritual health and PSNS, employing a convenience sampling method. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation test, and multiple linear regression in SPSS version 24. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered. RESULTS: The mean score of nurses' spiritual health was 90.27 ± 15.32, and the mean score of PSNS was 97.23 ± 14.13, both at a moderate level. No significant association was found between spiritual health scores and demographic variables (p > 0.05). A significant association was observed between patient satisfaction scores and the frequency of hospital visits (p = 0.029). No statistically significant relationship was found between nurses' spiritual health and patients' satisfaction (p > 0.05). The coefficient of determination (R² = 0.175) indicated that the type of insurance, frequency of hospital visits, and marital status of patients together predicted 17.5% of the variance in patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Spiritual health among nurses had no effect on patients' satisfaction with nursing care, and no statistically significant relationship was found between these two variables. PSNS was influenced by their demographic characteristics and environmental factors such as frequency of visits, educational level, insurance coverage, and marital status, rather than by the nurses' spiritual health. By improving service delivery processes, enhancing patients' awareness of the treatment process, providing financial support for patients, and identifying other contributing factors, patients' satisfaction can be improved.