title: Nurses' sociodemographic background and assessments of individualized care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the association between nurses' characteristics (educational level, country, work title, gender, type of work, age, and length of working experience) and their assessments of individualized care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional comparative survey using questionnaires was employed to sample nurses from seven countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from orthopedic and trauma nurses from Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States (N= 1,163, response rate 70%) using the Individualized Care Scale-Nurse (ICS-Nurse) and a sociodemographic questionnaire in 2008. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and general linear models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared with practical nurses, registered nurses, length of working experience, and the country of the nurses were associated with assessments of the support of patient individuality in specific nursing activities (ICS-A-Nurse) and country assessments of individuality in the care provided (ICS-B-Nurse). The background and experience within nursing teams together with the country affect the delivery of individualized care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, our findings suggest that nurses' personal attributes have important effects on their assessments of individualized nursing care that will be useful when making context-dependent recruitment decisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristics of nurses contribute to the care delivered in healthcare organizations. Recognition of these nurse-related factors may help nurse leaders in the development and management of clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University and Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Idvall
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katajisto
authors.forename: Rengin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Acaroglu
authors.forename: Maria Deolinda Antunes da
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Efstathiou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalafati
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanan
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leino-Kilpi
authors.forename: Chryssoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lemonidou
authors.forename: Evridiki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papastavrou
authors.forename: Merdiye
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sendir
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suhonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D057240:Patient Preference; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D014421:Turkey; D014481:United States