Perceptions Of Care Research Articles

Assessment of patient knowledge and perceptions towards orthodontic treatment in the Aljouf Region, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Background In orthodontic treatment, it is most important to assess the patient’s perspective of malocclusion because these perceptions are fundamental to determining the patient’s demands and level of treatment satisfaction. This study was done to assess the knowledge and perception of residents of the Aljouf Region of Saudi Arabia seeking orthodontic treatment. Furthermore, we determined the factors associated with the patients’ knowledge and perception of orthodontic treatment. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested and validated questionnaire among patients seeking orthodontic treatment who were registered at King Abdulaziz Hospital, Sakaka, and primary health centers. We identified the associated factors using binomial logistic regression analysis. Finally, we applied Spearman’s correlation test to identify the correlation between knowledge and perception. Results A total of 282 individuals participated in the current study, of which 53.3% were female and 46.1% were male. About one-third (36.9%) of patients had a low level of knowledge, 35.5% had a medium level of knowledge, and 27.7% had a high level of knowledge regarding orthodontic treatment. A total of 20.6% had low perceptions, 42.9% had medium perceptions, and 36.5% had high perceptions of orthodontic care. A significant correlation was found between age and gender, knowledge (p = 0.001), and perception (p = 0.040). Moreover, we observed a positive correlation between knowledge and perception (Spearman’s rho = 0.297, p = 0.001). Conclusion People in Aljouf have poor knowledge and medium perception regarding orthodontic treatment. We recommend that the concerned authorities make a health educational plan for the patients seeking orthodontic treatment.

Pain assessment and management in patients with dementia in Taiwan: a best practice implementation project.

The lack of a consistent and effective assessment tool for older adults with dementia in home care in Taiwan, and the inability of home care nurses to provide pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management, may affect the quality of life of patients with dementia. The aim of this project was to promote evidence-based practices for pain assessment and management of patients with dementia living in the community. The project followed the JBI Evidence-based Healthcare Model and the seven-phase JBI Evidence Implementation Framework. Eight audit criteria were used, representing best practice recommendations. Through a Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) analysis, we identified three barriers to changing practice and implemented improvement strategies. A follow-up audit was conducted to measure changes in compliance. This project was conducted in five home care institutions. Fourteen home care nurses and 109 patients with dementia participated in the project. The follow-up audit showed that compliance rates had improved significantly. Specifically, the compliance rate increased from 14.29%, 1.83%, 1.83% to 100% for Criteria 1-3, respectively. For Criteria 4-8, compliance increased from 0% to 100%. In addition, the average score of the home care nurses' perceptions of pain care for patients with dementia increased from 44.29 points before the intervention to 82.86 points, and all 14 home care nurses achieved a score of 100 points in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination scenario-based exercises, which was a good learning outcome. Leadership, knowledge-sharing, learning-by-doing teaching strategies, and open communication were key factors in the successful implementation of this study. http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A294.

Moral sensitivity, spiritual care perception, and compassion fatigue of nurses caring for earthquake victims.

Two major earthquakes occurred within 10hours in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, which resulted in thousands of deaths and injured people within Turkey. To determine the relationship between moral sensitivity, spiritual care perception, and compassion fatigue among nurses caring for earthquake victims. The study population consisted of 483 nurses working in public, private, and university hospitals in earthquake-affected areas in Turkey. The sociodemographic characteristics form, moral sensitivity questionnaire, spirituality and spiritual care rating scale, and compassion fatigue short scale were used for data collection. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between nurses' moral sensitivity and compassion fatigue; in other words, as compassion fatigue increases, nurses' moral sensitivity decreases. A statistically significant negative relationship was found between nurses' perception of spiritual care and their compassion fatigue; in other words, as compassion fatigue increases, nurses' perception of spirituality and spiritual care decreases. This study provides valuable insights into moral sensitivity, perceptions of spiritual care, and compassion fatigue among nurses caring for earthquake victims. Minimizing nurses' compassion fatigue improves quality patient care, increases patient and employee satisfaction, and maintains commitment to the profession. To achieve this goal, it is essential to offer in-service training, conferences, or seminar programs to nurses focused on fostering a sense of compassion. Nurses should be provided with environments that will improve their self-care, and institutional policies and strategies should be developed to cope effectively with this situation.

Perceptions of service providers on available care for paediatric feeding disorder: A survey study.

This study aimed to describe current strengths and gaps in services for children with feeding needs in Southeast Queensland, Australiafrom the perspective of key professionals involved in service design and provision. A web-based survey was distributed to health professionals involved in providing services to children with feeding needs, staff who triaged/managed referrals, and/or service team leaders in Southeast Queensland. There were 79 responses to the survey, with 61 of these responses included in the analysis. Respondents identified several strengths in paediatric feeding disorder (PFD) service provision, particularly in the quality of care available for children who met service eligibility requirements. However, respondents also described services as disjointed, with limited coordinated multidisciplinary care available. Respondents frequently described service limitations relating to public service eligibility criteria, long waiting lists, and scant communication between services. Gaps were reported in the care available for children with 'mild' feeding difficulties and/or children who were not considered medically complex. Respondents also identified gaps in services secondary to a limited number of confident and trained professionals offering PFD care, particularly in the private sector. This study described service providers' perceptions of available care for children with PFD in Southeast Queensland. Overall, the availability of PFD services appeared to be limited by eligibility criteria, service design, and staff capacity, suggesting that children with PFD are not receiving timely, multidisciplinary care in this geographical area. Further research into ideal service design is required to support preventative PFD care.

The Spanish Adaptation of the Quality in Psychiatric Care—Forensic Inpatient (QPC-FIP) Instrument: Psychometric Properties

Background/Objectives: The quality of care in forensic mental health services is a factor that significantly impacts recovery and constitutes a right of the individuals receiving treatment. However, there is a lack of instruments to assess the perceived quality of care among individuals in this setting. Quality in Psychiatric Care—Forensic Inpatient (QPC-FIP) is a Swedish instrument that measures the perception of quality care from the perspectives of patients in the forensic setting. The aim of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the QPC-FIP instrument into Spanish and to assess its reliability and validity. Methods: For the adaptation process, a translation–backtranslation of the instrument was performed. Regarding psychometric properties, the sample consisted of 120 inpatients in the forensic setting to whom the instrument was applied. To assess temporal stability, the instrument was readministered after 10 days (n = 98). Results: The confirmatory factor analysis showed an equivalent seven-factor structure with the original version, presenting a satisfactory model fit. Regarding reliability, the Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.933, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.836 (95% IC: 0.742–0.896), revealing results higher than 0.70 in six of the seven factors. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the QPC-FIP instrument showed adequate validity and reliability values, indicating that is a useful tool for measuring quality in psychiatric care in the forensic context.

The perception and understanding of the terminology used to describe malnutrition from the perspective of patients and health workers: A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

Malnutrition is prevalent across healthcare settings and has adverse outcomes for patients and the health system. However, some patients do not recall being informed about their malnutrition risk/diagnosis. This meta-synthesis of qualitative studies aimed to identify and synthesise patient, carer and health worker perceptions and understanding of the terminology used by health workers for malnutrition risk/malnutrition. Four databases were searched (Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Embase) up until August 2023. Title, abstract and full text screening were independently completed by 2 reviewers. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Studies Checklist. Data were analysed by the review team using thematic synthesis. The resulting themes informed review findings. The confidence in each finding was assessed using GRADE-CERQual. Seventeen studies were included contributing perspectives from patients (n=7 studies), health workers (n=5 studies) or both patients and health workers (n=5 studies); no studies included carer perspectives. There were 5 themes: "Patients have differing understanding, interpretation of, and identification with malnutrition risk and malnutrition terminology" (very low confidence); "Health workers perceive that patients do not identify with or understand malnutrition risk and malnutrition terminology" (low confidence); "Patients do not routinely perceive their malnutrition risk or malnutrition diagnosis as problematic" (low confidence); "Health workers use varied terminology for malnutrition risk and malnutrition" (low confidence); "Action is required to improve malnutrition diagnostic communication" (low confidence). Findings highlighted disparity in patients' perspectives regarding the terms used for malnutrition risk and malnutrition. Varied terms were used by health workers and patients did not often associate these terms with a health condition that required treatment. Health workers and patients called for action to improve the communication of malnutrition. To do this, further research exploring malnutrition terminology and the broader concept of malnutrition communication is required with patients, carers and health workers.

Analysis of Users’ Perception of Home Care Provided by the Family Health Strategy Team: A Quali–Quantitative Approach

Background/Objective: Home care involves actions and services aimed at promoting health. Despite being an important strategy for humanized care, strengthening bonds, and improving access, there is a lack of scientific evidence regarding users’ perceptions of home care. The objective of this study was to analyze the perception of users regarding the home care provided by the Family Health Strategy team. Methodology: A descriptive, quali–quantitative approach was used, with a sample of 60 patients who required home care. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured guide, and the analysis applied the Collective Subject Discourse. Results: Most participants were female (60%) and aged between 71 and 85 years (45%). The duration of home care varied, with 41.6% receiving care for 13 to 24 months. The majority of participants (61.6%) received home care weekly, while 33.4% were visited every 15 days, and 5% monthly. The most present professionals were community health agents (45%), followed by nursing assistants (18.3%), nurses (15%), and doctors (15%). Dentists and physiotherapists made fewer visits (3.3%). Regarding the care received, 36.6% valued the continuity of treatment, 31.6% were satisfied with the quality, and 25% highlighted the humanization of care. Only 6.6% desired more frequent visits. Conclusions: The analysis of perceptions revealed that participants valued the continuity of treatment and the quality of care received. Home visits were predominantly carried out by community health agents.

Higher and Middle Management Perspectives on Patient-Centered Care in an Oncology Setting: A Qualitative Study

Background: Patient center care (PCC) plays a crucial role in achieving the organizational and patient outcomes. Literature suggests that PCC enhance patient’s adherence to treatment, lower the cost of health care organization. This study aimed explore the higher and middle managers’ perceptions of patient-centered care (PCC) in an oncology setting, identify the PCC implementation challenges in the oncology setting, and understand the role of managers in facilitating PCC within the oncology context. Methods: Sampling involved the use of the purposive sampling technique on 17 middle managers and 6 upper managers who had been working in an oncology setting. The six-step thematic analysis method was used for data analysis. Results: The interviews identified six main themes and seventeen subthemes: “comprehensive care, partnership, and informed decision-making”, “infrastructure and support systems”, “leadership influence on patient-centered care”, “cultural and operational barriers”, “perceived outcomes”, and “strategies to enhance PCC in oncology”. The subthemes of comprehensive care included fostering partnerships and enabling informed decisions. The infrastructure and support systems encompassed educational empowerment and service integration. Leadership influence highlighted the role of elevating awareness, providing organizational support, and promoting comprehensive care. The cultural and operational barriers addressed the challenges faced in implementation. The perceived outcomes focused on the results of patient-centered care, while strategies to enhance PCC in oncology provided actionable insights for improvement. This provides a comprehensive understanding of the perceptions of middle and higher managers on patient-centered care (PCC) in oncology settings. It identifies key challenges in PCC implementation, highlights the critical role of managers in facilitating PCC, and offers actionable strategies for enhancing PCC.

Patterns of shared meaning across personal narratives surrounding experiences with palliative care, serious illness, and the end of life

Prior observations of persistent public misconceptions and negative beliefs surrounding palliative care have led to extensive calls for public education on palliative care. Yet, the development of effective initiatives to improve public perceptions of palliative care is still hindered by a lack of research providing a deeper, contextualized understanding of the way people perceive and give meaning to palliative care. This study therefore set out to explore patterns of shared meaning across personal narratives surrounding experiences with palliative care, serious illness, and the end of life. These narratives were collected during a broad public engagement initiative on palliative care in Flanders, Belgium which included a call to share personal stories surrounding palliative care (which 72 persons did) as well as a Citizens' Forum in which 24 persons engaged in live conversations on palliative care. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the personal narratives and yielded four axes of meaning: 1) ‘Sense of Support’, describing feeling supported or abandoned on multiple levels with key elements of open and empathetic communication, being informed and listened to; 2) ‘Being-in-Time’, incorporating a renewed sense of temporality and the weight of uncertain prognosis; 3) ‘Constituting a Sense of Self while Coping with Life-Threatening Illness’, involving concerns surrounding role adjustments and posthumous reputation; and 4) ‘Going Through the Process of Dying’, unique to bereaved individuals' narratives, highlighting the importance of being informed during the dying process and honoring the wishes of the dying person. Together, these axes illuminate how both positive and stigmatized views on palliative care are shaped by broader patterns of meaning attribution, deeply ingrained in personal and social contexts. The identified narrative elements can play a crucial role in improving the content, reach, and impact of future public communication and education on palliative care, effectively enhancing public receptivity and engagement.

Midwives' perspectives on personalised maternity care in the UK

Background/Aims Personalised care is associated with high-quality, safe maternity care. Limited evidence exists on midwives' perception of personalised care and potential barriers and facilitators associated with implementing it in practice. The aim of this study was to explore midwives' perspectives of personalised care. Methods An online mixed-methods survey was conducted exploring the perspectives of 46 NHS midwives. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results Assessing individual needs was perceived as a key facilitator and time restrictions were considered a significant barrier to providing personalised care in practice. Conclusions Providing personalised care is associated with increased job satisfaction for midwives, and key barriers include inflexible healthcare systems and limited resources. Implications for practice The findings contribute to an understanding of the factors that influence the provision of personalised care and have the potential to inform improvements in maternity services.

Bridging the gap: enhancing orthopaedic outcomes through qualitative research integration.

The evidence base within trauma and orthopaedics has traditionally favoured quantitative research methodologies. Qualitative research can provide unique insights which illuminate patient experiences and perceptions of care. Qualitative methods reveal the subjective narratives of patients that are not captured by quantitative data, providing a more comprehensive understanding of patient-centred care. The aim of this study is to quantify the level of qualitative research within the orthopaedic literature. A bibliometric search of journals' online archives and multiple databases was undertaken in March 2024, to identify articles using qualitative research methods in the top 12 trauma and orthopaedic journals based on the 2023 impact factor and SCImago rating. The bibliometric search was conducted and reported in accordance with the preliminary guideline for reporting bibliometric reviews of the biomedical literature (BIBLIO). Of the 7,201 papers reviewed, 136 included qualitative methods (0.1%). There was no significant difference between the journals, apart from Bone & Joint Open, which included 21 studies using qualitative methods, equalling 4% of its published articles. This study demonstrates that there is a very low number of qualitative research papers published within trauma and orthopaedic journals. Given the increasing focus on patient outcomes and improving the patient experience, it may be argued that there is a requirement to support both quantitative and qualitative approaches to orthopaedic research. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods may effectively address the complex and personal aspects of patients' care, ensuring that outcomes align with patient values and enhance overall care quality.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) and Perceptions of DFU and Foot Care among Doctors of Various Specialties in Western Maharashtra, India

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) and Perceptions of DFU and Foot Care among Doctors of Various Specialties in Western Maharashtra, India

“With an unwanted pregnancy, we are looking for midwives in the neighbourhood to show us what to do.” Stakeholder perceptions of midwife-led woman-centred comprehensive abortion care in the province of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: a qualitative descriptive study

ProblemMidwives are an essential yet underutilised health human resource for improving unsafe abortion outcomes and increasing abortion access and contraceptive care. BackgroundIn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), morbidity and mortality resulting from unsafe abortions are alarmingly high. The recent ratification of the Maputo Protocol in 2018 has made safe abortion accessible. National implementation strategies recognise midwives as providers of comprehensive abortion care (CAC), yet there is little understanding of their current role in its provision. AimTo understand the obstacles and facilitators in integrating the midwifery model of CAC in DRC's health system. MethodsA qualitative descriptive design was used to explore health system stakeholders' perceptions regarding the midwifery model of CAC in Kinshasa, DRC. Data sources included n=43 key informant interviews and n=2 FGDs. Results were member-checked with DRC Midwives’ Association (SCOSAF) members. FindingsFindings highlight midwives provided all aspects of CAC, with attention to the psycho-social well-being of their clients and acted as health service navigators in the community. Appropriate midwifery legislation, scope of practice that includes CAC, administrative support and remuneration, and better access to continuing education are facilitating health system factors for the midwifery model of CAC. Finally, SCOSAF, the Midwives’ Association, played an influential role in the implementation, positively supporting CAC integration by midwives. DiscussionUnderstanding health system levers and the involvement of Midwives’ Associations are important considerations when integrating and sustaining the midwifery model of CAC. Gender transformative approaches are appropriate given systemic gender inequities inherent in midwifery. ConclusionFurther research is needed to understand the impact of the midwifery model of CAC in DRC.

(Re)conceptualising Good Care in Hospital Settings From the Perspectives of Older Persons: A Concept Analysis Using Pragmatic Utility.

To understand good care from the perspective of hospitalised older persons. Older persons are the largest group of hospital users, and numbers will increase in the next decades. Hospital organisations are attempting to transform traditional care models to meet the specialised needs of hospitalised older persons. To achieve this, healthcare providers including nurses and administrators need to understand the perspectives of hospitalised older persons on what constitutes good care. This knowledge is critical to nursing to ensure that care aligns with the perceived needs of hospitalised older persons. However, good care from the viewpoints of hospitalised older persons remains ambiguous and poorly delineated in the literature. We conducted a concept analysis using the pragmatic utility method. To identify peer-reviewed articles, we searched CINAHL, MedLine, PsycINFO, Scopus and Embase databases for related literature using the keywords and related terms to 'good care', 'hospital or acute care' and 'older persons'. Twenty-two peer-reviewed articles out of 2144 search results were included. The heterogeneity of older persons' perspectives and limitations in the literature on good care led to a tentative understanding. Good care, a partially mature concept, is the provision of person-centred, culturally sensitive, holistic and integrated care that fosters autonomy, control and participation, resulting in a sense of belonging, smooth transitions, optimal management of clinical conditions, satisfaction in care and informed older persons and family caregivers. Older persons are a heterogeneous group with diverse perceptions of good care. Instead of seeking a common understanding of good care, efforts should be focused on identifying individual preferences, values and goals of hospitalised older persons. The components of good care are important for many hospitalised older persons and can serve as a starting point for improvements in practice settings. However, this understanding is tentative and may overlook critical aspects of care at an individual level. Hospital organisations, healthcare providers and nurses should be cognizant of this limitation and cultivate adaptability for an individualised approach to care.

Improving Interprofessional Provider Perceptions About Opioid Use Disorder in the Acute Care Setting Through a Blended Educational Simulation Intervention

Background The influx of patients in the acute care setting with opioid use disorder (OUD) has outpaced many hospitals’ ability to educate interprofessional staff. This creates distressing experiences for interprofessional staff and patients, leading to moral distress and burnout in staff and poor patient outcomes. Objective The purpose of this study was to improve interprofessional staff knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward working with patients who have OUD using a blended classroom-simulation–based curriculum. Methods A preintervention and postintervention design was selected. Interprofessional staff (n = 46) participated in a blended classroom-simulation educational intervention focused on the neurobiology of OUD, stigma reduction, pain management, and harm reduction principles, followed by 3 high-fidelity simulation scenarios. Participants completed the Drug and Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire to measure staff self-perceived knowledge, skills, and attitudes when working with patients who use drugs before, immediately after, and again 3 and 6 months postintervention. Results Most respondents were nurses with an average of 7.6 (SD, 9.6) years of experience. The majority did not have prior training in substance use disorder before (75.6%). There was a statistically significant decrease in mean Drug and Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire scores across the total score mean: 55.2 (95% confidence interval, 52.2-58.3) versus 45.5 (95% confidence interval, 43.9-47.1), P < .001. Decreased score indicates improved attitude and perception. Discussion A curriculum consisting of a blended classroom-simulation intervention was successful at improving several domains regarding perceptions of caring for patients with OUD. This educational intervention can serve as a model for health care systems with goal of improving patient outcomes and staff well-being.

A Comparison of Palliative Care Perceptions Across Metastatic Spine Patients and the General Population.

Background: Palliative care (PC) has been shown to benefit patients with metastatic cancer by managing symptoms, improving quality of life, and facilitating advance care planning. Despite this, PC is often misunderstood and underutilized. Objective: To deepen our understanding of PC barriers seen among the spine metastasis population. Design/Setting: Between March 2021 and August 2022, people with metastatic spine tumors (MSTs) at a multidisciplinary oncology clinic were administered a survey on PC prior to their scheduled appointment. These responses were compared with the Health Information National Trends Survey 5 (HINTS 5), which is a validated survey created by the National Cancer Institute between February and June of 2020. Chi-squared statistical analysis was used. Results: Fifty-six people with MST were compared with 3795 patients from the HINTS 5 database. People with MST reported a significantly higher baseline understanding of PC when compared with the general population (GP) (chi-squared = 34.4, p = <0.0001). People with MST had a higher frequency of disagreement with the statement "PC is equivalent with death" when compared with the GP (chi-squared = 12.8, p = 0.0124). Over 25% of the MST group reported no understanding of PC. Conclusion: MST patients are often referred to PC services due to the extreme symptom burden of their disease. Based on this study, in comparison to the GP, people with MST tended to have a more accurate and well-adjusted perception of the goals and functions of PC. Although reassuring, there remains a high proportion of patients who have no knowledge of PC, and groups erroneously associated PC with hospice status.

PERCEPTIONS OF THE APPLICATION OF THE CARE MODEL FOR CHRONIC CONDITIONS IN PARANÁ, BRAZIL

The current healthcare model for users with chronic conditions in the Unified Health System needs to be transformed. In Paraná, there are strategies for continuing education and co-financing of services focused on the Chronic Conditions Care Model. This is a descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach that analyzed the perceptions of Primary Health Care and Specialized Outpatient Care professionals about the implementation of the Chronic Conditions Care Model. Four focus groups were held, with the participation of 37 professionals, and the discussions permeated the work processes from the perspective of thematic analysis. The statements identified elements such as risk stratification of the health condition, organization of care, and team rapprochement. The development of the care plan is incipient due to the lack of understanding of professionals and users about the tool. In health units, access occurs according to the logic of acute care, and care sharing through regulatory centers. Continuing education strategies, structured public policies and specific financing are drivers for the consolidation of the Model.

The Relationship Between Nursing Students' Perceptions of Individualized Care and Quality of Care: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

This study aims to evaluate nursing students' perceptions of individualized care and quality of care and examine the relationship between them. The population of this descriptive, cross-sectional study consisted of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-year students (n=416) who were enrolled in the nursing department of a state university. The sample consisted of 275 nursing students. Data were collected online between April and May 2022 using the "Student Information Form", “Individualized Care Scale- Nurse (ICS-A Nurse)” and “Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 (CBI-24)”. Data was analyzed using the Independent samples t-tests, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The CBI-24 and ICS-A total mean scores were 5.01±0.58 and 4.12±0.53, respectively. The most commonly perceived barrier to providing individualized care was “communication problems”. The ICS-A was found to explain approximately 42.6% of the variance in students' CBI-24 mean score (p

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Perception of Individualized Nursing Care Among Nurses in Acute Medical and Perioperative Settings

Background/Objectives: Individualized nursing care allows for systematic assessment and intervention; considers a patient’s preferences, values, and context; and contributes to a positive care trajectory. However, its operationalization has proven to be challenging. This research aimed to evaluate nurses’ perceptions of individualized care and analyze their relationship with sociodemographic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 122 eligible and registered nurses at a Hospital Center, in the Ophthalmology (operating room and inpatient ward) service, the Cardiology service, the Internal Medicine service, and the Medical Emergency Unit, for adults/older adults in Portugal. The nursing version of the Individualized Care Scale (ICS-Nurse) was used for the assessment, including three sub-dimensions: clinical situation, personal life situation, and decisional control over care-related decisions. Cronbach’s alpha and principal component analysis were used for the data analysis. The STROBE checklist was used to report this study. Results: No statistically significant differences were found based on the age, gender, level of education, or years of professional experience of the nurses within the sub-dimensions of individualization. The nurses overall had a good perception of the importance of individualized care (4.06 ± 0.46 ICS-A-NURSE) but faced difficulties in its implementation during the last shift they worked (3.97 ± 0.49 ICS-B-NURSE). Conclusions: The items considered to be of greatest importance were the response to the physical and emotional needs arising from illness and assistance in decision-making through educational instructions. Aspects related to the personal lives of patients, such as family inclusion in an individual’s care plan, everyday habits, and previous experiences of hospitalization, received the lowest scores. Recognizing priority areas for improvement in the individualization of nursing care can contribute to developing training programs and policies that promote a holistic approach. Future studies should consider patient outcomes related to their needs for individualization.

Experience of Labour and Childbirth in a Sample of Portuguese Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Childbirth is a profoundly personal experience that often does not align with expectations. The World Health Organization has established guidelines for best practises; in this sense, it is crucial to understand the childbirth experiences of Portuguese women in comparison with these guidelines. A quantitative, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted to achieve this. In total, 615 women completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Labour and Childbirth Experience questionnaire, which comprised 39 statements based on the WHO's recommendations. Additionally, the study utilized the Life Satisfaction Scale and gathered insights into participants' overall perception of care during this phase. The results were categorized as follows: (1) practises influencing the labour experience; (2) practises influencing the experience of vaginal birth; (3) practises affecting the experience of caesarean birth; and (4) emotional experience during labour and birth. Notably, the study found that practises discouraged by the WHO are still prevalent, potentially enabling obstetric violence. However, a robust and statistically significant correlation was observed between the childbirth experience and the overall perception of care.