Expectations of patients from surgery wards in aspect of biological needs

: Fundamental aim of care in hospitals is to maintain and restore patient homeostasis disturbed by disease. Deficiencies and shortages are both indication of problems expressed by needs and expectations. Expectations of patients are an important source of informations about his/her health, they allow to determine the aims of treatment compatible with needs and hierarchy of problems. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the level of expected and provided nursing care, in meeting the biological needs of patients from two surgical wards. The study was conducted among 468 patients, 320 from the surgery clinic of the teaching hospital and 148 from surgery ward of a local hospital. We used standarised questionnaires which evaluated level of expected care and provided nursing care--in patients opinions. Patients from the surgery ward had less expectations in aspect of biological needs. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001, U = -9.1999). The highest demands in both units were observed in area of maintaining the hygiene of the body and environment. In patients opinions, the highest level of meeting the needs was achieved in aspect of nutrition and elimination of stools and urine. The higher levels of expectations of patients from the clinic were associated with increased level of care and meeting the needs.