Quality of General Nursing Care and Patient Satisfaction in Dental Teaching Hospitals: A Correlation Study

Abstract

Background: General nursing care quality is a fundamental component of healthcare services and an important determinant of patient satisfaction. However, evidence regarding its contribution within dental teaching hospital settings remains limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between general nursing care quality and patient satisfaction at the Islamic Dental Teaching Hospital (RSIGMP FKG UMI)

Methods: We conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study among 114 outpatients receiving general nursing care at RSIGMP FKG UMI between May and June 2026. Participants were recruited using consecutive sampling. We measured general nursing care quality using a validated 24-item questionnaire based on SERVQUAL dimensions (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.990) and assessed patient satisfaction using a 2-item questionnaire (Spearman-Brown coefficient = 0.989). Descriptive statistics summarized respondent characteristics and study variables. We analyzed relationships between variables using Spearman Rank correlation at a significance level of 0.05

Result: The mean general nursing care quality score was 104.44 ± 11.14 (range 24–110) out of a maximum theoretical score of 120, while the mean patient satisfaction score was 9.60 ± 1.04 out of 10. Spearman Rank analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between general nursing care quality and patient satisfaction (rs = 0.709, p < 0.001), indicating a strong relationship.

Conclusion: General nursing care quality was strongly associated with patient satisfaction at RSIGMP FKG UMI. Strengthening nurses’ competency management may improve patient experiences and satisfaction outcomes in dental teaching hospitals.