Factors associated with the provision of individualized care during hospitalization: A systematic review

Abstract

Aim: To analyse and integrate the existing literature on nurses' perceptions regarding factors associated with the provision of individualized care in hospital contexts.

Background: Individualized care considers the personal characteristics of patients and promotes their participation in decision-making. The application of individualized care is not standardized among professionals.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Índice Médico Español, CUIDEN, ProQuest, PsycoINFO, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library, for studies published in English or Spanish analysing nurses' perceptions on factors associated with the provision of individualized care.

Results: A total of 6,330 articles were retrieved, of which 13 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The provision of individualized care was influenced by the nurses' personal characteristics (academic training, being a specialist, age, professional experience, personal motivation, empathy and culture) and by organisational factors (staff ratio, routinization and standardization of care, autonomous professional practice, leadership and positive work environment).

Conclusions: Nurses' perceptions on the provision of individualized care are influenced by their personal characteristics and organisational factors.

Implications for nursing management: Nurse managers may optimize personalization of care by encouraging positive work environments; ensuring adequate staffing; avoiding routinization or standardization of care; and promoting training, leadership and autonomy of nursing professionals.

Keywords: hospitalization; individuality; nursing care; patient care planning; systematic review.