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.