title: Patient satisfaction as an outcome of individualised nursing care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between individualised nursing care and patient satisfaction has been previously found. However, there is a lack of studies examining this association between individualised care and patient satisfaction in a cross-cultural study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the association between individualised care and patient satisfaction in a sample of general surgical patients from five European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional design and survey method were used to collect data from general surgical patients (N = 1315, response rate 78%) in 72 inpatient wards in 26 general acute hospitals' in 2009 using self-completed questionnaires the Individualised Care Scale and the Patient Satisfaction Scale. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple stepwise regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical patients reported that the care they received was only moderately individualised overall, but individuality was taken into account well in patients' clinical situation and decisional control over care. Patients were satisfied with their care, mostly with the technical aspects of care and least with the information given. There were between-country differences in patients' perceptions of individuality in care and patient satisfaction. A positive correlation between the level of individualised care received and patient satisfaction was found, confirming that individualised nursing care delivery influences patients' satisfaction with care and demonstrating that this quality of care indicator might be able to be used as a predictor of patient satisfaction, one outcome of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study strengthen previous results and further reporting the existence of a relationship and the positive correlation between individualised care and patient satisfaction. The results can inform administrative decisions and policy on introducing nursing approaches to care that would increase patient satisfaction.
authors: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. suhonen.riitta@kolumbus.fi
authors: Riitta
authors: R
authors: Suhonen
authors: Evridiki
authors: E
authors: Papastavrou
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Efstathiou
authors: Haritini
authors: H
authors: Tsangari
authors: Darja
authors: D
authors: Jarosova
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Leino-Kilpi
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: Patiraki
authors: Chryssoula
authors: C
authors: Karlou
authors: Zoltan
authors: Z
authors: Balogh
authors: Anastasios
authors: A
authors: Merkouris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009729:Nursing; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D055815:Young Adult