Conclusions
This study demonstrated that Saudi patients perceived
overall caring behaviors as more important (97.2%) than
frequently occurring (73.7%), with a statistically significant
difference for men and women. The supportive/protective/
corrective environment subscale was rated as most important
and most frequently experienced. Teaching/Learning
was important but less frequently experienced.
To improve the frequency of attending to the teaching/
learning caring behaviors by staff nurses who cannot
speak the language of their patients, we recommend that
nursing management strive to provide more language assistance
through proficient bilingual interpreters. This may
help alleviate language communication barriers and enhance
299