Correlation between Nurses’ Perception of Individualized Care and Xenophobia

Abstract Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between nurses' perception of individualized care and xenophobia. Methods: The data of this descriptive and cross-sectional study were collected at intensive care unit between December 2019 and March 2020, using the nurse descriptive information form, the nurse version of the individualized care scale, and the xenophobia scale. The sample of the study consisted of 411 nurses working at the specified hospital and agreeing to participate in the study. Results: The mean age of the nurses was 28.33±5.16 years, and 76.6% of them were in the 18-30 age group. 78.1% of them were at undergraduate education level and their average professional experience was 5.34±4.37 years. 73.0% of the nurses stated that they did not receive training on transcultural care and 77.6% stated that they encounter patients from different cultures every day, and that they had the most difficulty in communication (95.4%) while caring for these patients. The mean score of the scale Individiualized Care Scale A version (ICS-A) was 3.58±0.67, and the mean score of the Individiualized Care Scale B version (ICS-B) was 3.77±0.67. The total mean score of the nurses' xenophobia scale was 47.14±10.04. There was a weak positive correlation between ICS and xenophobia scale mean scores (p<0.05). It was found that the education level of the nurses, receiving transcultural care education, wanting to live in another country, preferring to care for foreign patients, and the time they spent in the care of these patients were factors that significantly affected the xenophobia and ICS score averages. Conclusion: Nurses' perceptions of supporting the individuality of patients and individualizing care were found to be at a good level, but the risk of xenophobia was high. The high risk of xenophobia in nurses was considered as a hindering factor in the individualization of care. The high number of immigrants in the region where the study was conducted reveals the urgent need to meet the training needs of nurses on transcultural care.