Nursing Staff Attitude Towards Nurse-Physician Collaboration in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Al Ahsa City, Saudi Arabia

Makarim Taqi Al Helal, Postgraduate Certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), CCN, Nursing Quality Department, Maternity and Children Hospital, Al Ahsa, Eastern Province, Saudi ArabiaFollow
Yaqoub Yousef Al Mousa, Al Omran General Hospital, Al Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaFollow

ORCID

Makarim Taqi Al Helal: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5880-033X

Yaqoub Yousef Al Mousa: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2998-087X

Abstract

Objective: Effective nurse-physician collaboration is fundamental to ensuring quality healthcare delivery, particularly in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), where patient outcomes rely heavily on coordinated teamwork. This study aimed to assess nursing staff attitudes toward nurse-physician collaboration in NICUs, examine the influence of demographic and professional characteristics, and provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen interprofessional collaboration. Methods: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to June 2024 in the NICU of Maternity and Children's Hospital, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A total of 180 nurses with at least one year of NICU experience participated. Data were collected using the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration (JSAPNC), available in English and Arabic. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and professional characteristics, while Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H tests assessed differences in attitudes by gender, age, education, and experience. Results: The majority of participants were female (93.8%), aged 30–39 years (50%), and held a bachelor's degree (69.4%). Nurses reported moderate perceptions of collaboration (M = 1.98, SD = 0.81). Nonparametric tests revealed no significant associations between demographic variables and overall attitudes toward collaboration (p > .05), although a significant difference was observed across age groups in the Physician Authority dimension (p = .009). Conclusions: Nurses showed moderate knowledge and strong technical skills but gaps in holistic care. Targeted training is essential to improve competencies, patient outcomes, and the overall patient experience in acute asthma management.

Recommended Citation

Helal M, Mousa Y. Nursing Staff Attitude Towards Nurse-Physician Collaboration in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Al Ahsa City, Saudi Arabia. Patient Experience Journal. 2026; 13(1):345-353. doi: 10.35680/2372-0247.2082.