Discussion
This study provided evidence that Saudi patients recognized
overall caring behaviors and each individual subscales
as important. The humanism/faith-hope/sensitivity,
supportive/protective/corrective environment, and human
needs assistance subscales were rated as the most important
of all caring behaviors.
The humanism/faith-hope/sensitivity subscale deals mostly
with higher order patient needs. Patients who feel stressed
and frightened need to have their self-esteem boosted. Thus,
nurses must instill hope in patients when making their presence
felt. Nurses must also be sensitive to patient feelings
and praise patients when appropriate. Liu, Mok, and Wong
(2006) emphasized that nurses need to find positive meanings,
possibilities, and hope in situations that may appear
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bleak. It is also clear that, through caring, nurses can help
shape patients' illnesses as positive experiences in which
patients experience respect, dignity, comfort, and the feeling
that the caregiver is there for them. Support for this act of
caring is provided in the literature. Riccio (2000) found the
patients' desire to have nurses spend more time with them
and share feelings. These all lead to patients fulfilling
higher order needs and self-actualization at that particular
stage of life, and Saudi patients have indicated these
caring behaviors to be important.
The