Evaluation of service quality and patient satisfaction should be an ongoing process for improving the quality of patient care. Quality of caring behaviour significantly impact on patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the service quality of nursing care through patients' and student nurses' perception on nurses' caring behaviours and patient satisfaction. This descriptive study was conducted in 2018 in the surgical and medical wards of a leading hospital in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. The study population was patients (N=300) and 3rd-year student nurses (N=115). Random sampling technique was used. Validated and modified 5 point-Likert scales of "perception of caring-behaviors" and "SERVQULAL" were employed. Jean Watson's theory of human caring was incorporated in the study. Descriptive analysis, Pearson's correlation, and regression analysis were performed. The mean was computed (1-5) and higher score reflected positive perception. Patients' perception was above average level on caring behaviour (4.07±0.54) and satisfaction (3.21±0.64). There was a strong correlation between perceived caring behaviour and patient satisfaction (Pearson Correlation 0.65). Findings revealed that patients rated higher in terms of caring behavior compared to the ratings of student nurses (3.47±0.65) and there was a significance difference between two groups (0.03< 0.05). According to regression analysis between independent (caring behaviour) and dependent variable (satisfaction), R2 was 0.44. Jean Watson's theory of care, bedside handover, information provision to the patients, empathetic approach and patients' awareness on ideal nursing care are recommended to further increase quality and satisfaction. Area of culturally appropriate therapeutic touch is recommended for future research.

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IntroductionThis integrative review aims to synthesise, appraise and analyse the evidence on informal carers’ information needs, features and functions of available mHealth applications, and informal carers’ usability and engagement with mHealth applications for managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).Methods and analysisThis integrative review will include quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies and follow the ‘Preferred Reporting for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020’ guidelines. Peer-reviewed articles published in English from 2000 to 2021 will be included from Cochrane Library, CINHAL, Embase, MEDLINE, ProQuest and PsycINFO. Five broader concept categories will be included: ‘dementia’, ‘behavioural and psychological symptoms’, ‘informal carers’, ‘(information need’ OR ‘mHealth application)’. In title and abstract review, first, the researchers will independently screen 10% of sources for consensus, and one reviewer will screen the rest. In full-text review, two reviewers will conduct the screening process and assess the relevancy of the full-text articles using a two-point scale (high-low) and the methodological quality of included articles using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Narrative synthesis will be employed to synthesise themes. The findings may identify the need for planning interventions for carers of people with dementia concerning the management of BPSD.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval not required. This review will be published in a peer-review journal and be presented at national and international conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021238540.

ObjectiveTo review and synthesise the evidence on informal carers’ information needs in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) of their care recipients and related mobile health (mHealth) applications to inform the design of an mHealth application.DesignThis is a systematic integrative review guided by Whittemore and Knafl’s five-stages framework. Six databases were searched: Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, ProQuest and PsycINFO. The key concepts included ‘dementia’, ‘behavioural and psychological symptoms’, ‘informal carers’ and (‘information need’ or ‘mHealth application’). Peer-reviewed full-text articles published in English from 2000 to 2022 were included. The methodological rigour of studies was analysed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool V.2018. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-2020 reporting guidelines were followed.ResultsThis review included 34 studies, including quantitative (n=13), qualitative (n=17) and mixed-method (n=4) studies. Four major themes emerged from the reported studies: the need for addressing information needs on managing BPSD, the role of support systems in managing BPSD, self-care for carers and the role of mHealth applications in providing education and support for carers. In managing BPSD, carers seek knowledge about dementia and BPSD, the roles of the carers and misconceptions about BPSD. One study reported an mHealth application to monitor the behavioural issues of people with dementia.ConclusionInformal carers of people with dementia face a number of challenges when providing care for BPSD of their care recipients. The lack of knowledge on managing BPSD is a significant challenge. Support systems such as professional, social, residential, legal and eHealth have a significant role in managing the BPSD of people with dementia in the community. mHealth interventions are sparse to support BPSD management. These findings can be used in designing an mHealth application that addresses needs related to managing BPSD of informal carers of people with dementia.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021238540.