PATIENT SATISFACTION WITH NURSING CARE IN IRAQ: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

The significance of Patient Satisfaction with Nursing Care (PSNC) as a key determinant of whole patient's satisfaction with hospital service and the quality of healthcare has been widely recognized. However, the current national level of PSNC in Iraq is not well understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to determine the extent to which patients are satisfied with nursing care in Iraq and to detect any associated factors. A comprehensive search was conducted on electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE utilizing specific search terms from January 2013 to December 2024. The quality assessment of each study utilized a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale tailored for cross-sectional studies. Statistical analyses were performed using Jamovi software, with meta-analysis employing a random-effects approach. The reporting of results adhered to the guidelines set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Of 416 records screened, 8 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The estimated pooled level of PSNC in Iraq was 47% (95% CI (0.327, 0.612)). In 87.5% of the studies included, it was emphasized that communication skills were a crucial factor in ensuring patient satisfaction. The low PSNC in Iraq could potentially be due to various factors. Consequently, the Ministry of Health should prioritize improving the quality of nursing care to enhance patient satisfaction and elevate the overall quality of healthcare services in Iraq.