Hospitalised cancer patients’ perceptions of individualised nursing care in four European countries

"Individualized Care" From the Viewpoint of Turkish Patients and Oncology Nurses

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a chronic disease that leads to major life changes for individuals because it affects physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. It is important that nursing care is able to respond to different individual needs regarding the challenges experienced by cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concept of individualized care as perceived by oncology patients and nurses working in oncology clinics.

METHODS

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical oncology clinic in Turkey. Participants were oncology nurses (n = 23) and cancer patients (n = 180) discharged after treatment. The data were collected using the Patient-Nurse Identification Form, Individualized Care Scale (ICS-A, ICS-B), and Individualized Care Scale-Nurse.

RESULTS

Nurses' perceptions of individualized care were more positive than those of patients. Patients' age, marital status, education level, income level, and disease characteristics did not have an effect on their awareness of interventions supporting their individuality or on their perceptions of individualized care. More years of employment in the nursing profession and in oncology had a positive effect on individualization of patient care.

CONCLUSION

Perceptual differences between patients and nurses exist; individualized care plans may be needed to minimize the differences.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

These study outcomes can guide individualized care for cancer patients.

Individualized Care: Perceptions of Gynecologic Oncology Patients and Nurses

The purpose of the descriptive study was to assess the individualized care perceptions of gynecologic oncology patients and nurses. The study was conducted between June 1, 2015, and September 30, 2015, at a university hospital and at a training and research hospital in Ankara, Turkey. The study sample included 152 patients who received inpatient treatment at the selected hospitals' gynecologic oncology clinics, and 29 nurses are working at these clinics. The number of the patients was determined by using One-Sample t-Test Power Analysis. The questionnaire was filled by the researcher using face-to-face interview method. The data were analyzed by using Independent Samples t Test, the Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests were used to determine whether distribution of the parameters was normal. Patients' perception on "nurses support their individuality" was found to be X̅ = 3.07 ± 0.97 and their perception on "nurses provide individual care" was X̅ = 2.33 ± 0.69. As patients' perception on "nurses support their individuality" increased, their perception on "nurses provide individual care service" also increased (r = 0.736; p = 0.001). The patients' satisfaction with care was at a moderate level (63.16 ± 14.97). The level of perception on "nurses support the individuality of patients during care practices (X̅ = 1.65 ± 0.58) and provide individual care service to the patients (X̅ = 1.61 ± 0.62)" was low. Nurses stating that they supported the individuality of patients provided individual care to their patients (r = 0.828; p = 0.001). The nurses' perception on "they support patients' individuality" and "they provide individual care service" was lower than patients' perception on "nurses support their individuality" and "nurses provide individual care." The nurses' job satisfaction (general satisfaction) was at a moderate level (3.08). In this study, nurses' perception on individualized care was lower than patients' perception.

Relationship between individualized care perception and innovativeness among final-year nursing students

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between individualized care (IC) perceptions and innovativeness among final-year nursing students.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The population of this analytical study consisted of 230 students. Data were collected using a student information form (individualized care scale [ICS]-nurse version, individual innovativeness). Data analysis was carried out using descriptive, comparative, correlational, and stepwise regression analysis statistics.

FINDINGS

Nursing students had a high perception of IC and an early majority level of innovativeness. As their innovativeness levels increased, their perceptions of IC also increased. There was a positive correlation between the total ICS-A-nurse score and the individual innovativeness scale/openness to experience subscale. In regression analysis, the individual innovativeness total increased IC.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Courses and practical work should be organized for students to raise their awareness of IC and to increase their innovativeness.

Validation of the Finnish Person-Centered care Climate Questionnaire-Patient and testing the relationship with individualised care

AIMS

The aim of the study was two-fold: (1) to test the psychometric properties of the Person-Centered care Climate Questionnaire-Patient-Finnish version (PCQ-P-Fin), and (2) to examine the associations between older patients' perceptions of the PCC climate and their perceptions of individuality in care delivered within acute care settings for older people.

DESIGN

An exploratory, correlational, cross-sectional survey design.

METHODS

The study was conducted within acute care settings for older people with heart failure (n = 111, response rate 54%). Data were collected with self-completed questionnaires, the Person-Centered care Climate Questionnaire-Patient version (PCQ-P-Fin) and the Individualized Care Scale-Patient (ICS-Patient-B), between 6/2016 and 5/2017. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, exploratory factor analysis and a Rasch analysis.

RESULTS

The PCQ-P-Fin showed satisfactory structural, construct and concurrent validity and high reliability. The ICS-B-Patient and the PCQ-P-Fin correlated strongly positive suggesting an association between the perceptions of individuality in care and the care climate.

CONCLUSION

The PCQ-P-Fin is a useful, reliable and valid tool. Characteristics of the care environment, especially the climate and the extent to which this is perceived to be person-centred, may be used to enhance perceptions of individualised care.

The relationship between nurses' empathic tendencies, empathic skills, and individualized care perceptions

PURPOSE

The study aims to determine the relationship between nurses' empathic tendencies, empathic skills, and individualized care perceptions.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study employed a descriptive and correlational design. Data were collected from nurses in eight training and research hospitals in Turkey. The study sample consisted of 472 nurses who were both volunteered to participate and randomly selected.

FINDINGS

A definite high-level relation was determined between nurses' empathic tendencies and individualized care perceptions, but no relation was determined between nurses' empathic skills and individualized care perceptions.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This study can underline practices accounting for empathy and individualized care in nursing research and training programs.

Expectations of patients with colorectal cancer towards nursing care- a thematic analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore comprehensively expectations of patients with colorectal cancer towards nursing care in the chemotherapy context.

METHODS

A purposive sample of patients with colorectal cancer (n = 15) was interviewed individually at the outpatient clinic in one university hospital chemotherapy unit. The data were analysed with thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three main themes were identified in the data. Firstly, patients expected to be empowered with knowledge of disease process, side effects and their self-management and peer support. Secondly, patients expected to be humanely encountered, which included being encountered with support, compassion and hope. Thirdly, patients expected to be skillfully cared for with systematic assessment, expertise, continuity and advocacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Besides reliable knowledge of cancer treatment and care, patients expected the sympathetic presence of a nurse whose professional skills they can trust. The results may be utilised in intervention development by focusing on themes significant to these patients. The results may help nurses to enhance person-centred care as well as to encounter patients according to their expectations.