AWARENESS, PERCEPTION AND ATTITUDE REGARDING NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMME AMONG HEALTH CARE STAKE HOLDERS-AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Abstract

Introduction The Nurse Practitioner (NP) program, a critical aspect of healthcare, has gained attention for its potential to address healthcare shortages and improve clinical care. This study aims to assess the awareness, perceptions, and attitudes towards the Nurse Practitioner Program (NPCC) among healthcare stakeholders in India, exploring the role of demographic variables such as gender, age, academic qualifications, and professional experience. Methods- A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 healthcare stakeholders, including BSc final year students, staff nurses, and doctors from intensive care units (ICUs). Demographic data were collected alongside measures of general awareness, program understanding, perception, and attitude towards NPCC. Chi-square tests were performed to assess associations between demographic variables and stakeholders' perceptions and attitudes towards the program. Results- The study found that the majority (67%) of respondents were female, with 40.66% under 25 years old. Awareness about the NPCC program was generally high, with 78.7% recognizing the program, while understanding varied by aspect-70.8% were aware of eligibility criteria, and 85.7% recognized the regulatory body. Perceptions regarding the NPCC program were positive, with 84.6% of participants demonstrating high awareness of NP roles and 76.3% acknowledging the program's potential to improve clinical competence. Age and academic qualifications were found to have no significant impact on perceptions, while a significant association was observed between age and attitude towards the NPCC program (p < 0.05). Discussion- Overall, healthcare stakeholders displayed substantial awareness and positive perceptions of the NPCC program. However, despite the positive attitude towards NP roles, there was no significant impact of gender, academic qualifications, or professional experience on participants' perceptions and attitudes. Age emerged as the only demographic factor significantly influencing attitudes towards the program, highlighting the importance of age-related factors in shaping professional outlook