Abstract
BACKGROUND: Duffy's Quality-Caring Model guides nursing practice at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, FL. No published studies using this model in oncology were found. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to determine patients' perceptions of nurse caring behaviors at the time of discharge after surgery. METHODS: A descriptive correlational design was used. Data were collected using Duffy's Caring Assessment Tool (CAT). Simple regression analyses were performed. FINDINGS: Spearman's correlation coefficients between the scores and age, length of stay, and number of nurses caring for the patients were not significant. No significant association was found between surgical site and CAT scores, nor between gender, race, and disposition posthospitalization. Appreciation of unique meanings and mutual problem solving showed need for improvement.