**3.3 Participants**

As the study target, two populations were identified: (a) nursing staff and (b) patients.


On the research day, the researcher personally contacted all hospitalized patients capable of communicating. The patients were informed that a *study on nursing care* was being conducted, and offered the name of the person responsible and their

contact details when requested, and provided with details regarding what would happen to the information provided. If willing to cooperate, patients were offered a questionnaire to complete. When a patient was unable or unwilling to participate, one of their visitors was invited to complete the questionnaire instead.
