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

AIM: To analyze 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, CINHAL and the Cochrane Library, for studies published in English or Spanish analyzing nurses' perceptions on factors associated with the provision of individualized care.

RESULTS: 6330 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 organizational 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 organizational 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.