Impact of the professional work environment on the quality of nursing care: a comparative analysis of physicians’ and nurses’ perceptions
Keywords:
professional environment, teamwork, nurses, physicians, quality of care, communicationAbstract
Introduction: Teamwork between nurses and physicians is a key factor in ensuring safety, efficiency, and quality in healthcare. Objective: To analyse nurses’ and physicians’ perceptions of the professional practice environment and its impact on the quality of care. Materials and Methods: The standardized Professional Practice Environment Assessment Scale (PPEAS) was used. The study included 136 healthcare professionals (48 nurses and 36 physicians). Key aspects assessed were communication, mutual respect, collaboration, and participation in decision-making. Results: Physicians rated the characteristics of the professional environment more highly (mean score 77%), while nurses were more sensitive to organizational factors and their involvement in the decision-making process (mean score 73%). The strongest indicator of respect, shared by both groups, was “courteous and dignified behaviour”. Conclusion: The study highlights the need to strengthen teamwork, ensure equal participation, and provide systematic training for multidisciplinary practice to guarantee high-quality nursing care.
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