title: Representations of health, illness and care by Eastern European, South American and Italian nurses: A qualitative study.
abstract: This qualitative study analyses the social representations of health, illness and care, considering the similarities and differences between 30 nurses from different regions. We conducted three intra-ethnic focus groups and two inter-ethnic focus groups. This study shows similarities between the nurses' representations. All participants believed that the psychological sphere affects individual's health, that disease is an imbalance between physical and psychological factors and that interpersonal aspects are essential for care. Differences emerged regarding many facets. Eastern European nurses placed more importance on psychological aspects, South American nurses emphasised interpersonal relationships and Italian nurses focused their attention on economic aspects and their impact on health, illness and care.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Velotti
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia Serena
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.affiliation: 2 Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petrocchi
authors.affiliation: 2 Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio Cesare
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zavattini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005061:Europe, Eastern; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013020:South America
keywords: care; health; illness; nurses; social representation