Difficulties and practices regarding information provision among Korean and Italian nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Communication
• Cross-cultural Studies

Background:

• Patient-centered care necessitates comprehensive information delivery by nurses.
• Legal mandates for patient information exist in many countries, but not in South Korea or Italy, where nurses rely on deontological codes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare nurses' opinions and practices regarding patient information provision across different cultural contexts.
• To identify similarities and differences in information delivery challenges and strategies between Korean and Italian nurses.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 174 Korean and 121 Italian nurses in university hospitals.
• Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires assessing demographics, professional characteristics, and information provision practices and difficulties.

Main Results:

• Significant demographic and professional differences were observed between Korean and Italian nurses.
• Both groups reported similar difficulties and practices in information delivery, frequently informing patients about medications and procedures but less so about care plans.
• Korean nurses perceived their role in information provision as better defined within teams compared to Italian nurses.

Conclusions:

• Cultural, demographic, and professional variations did not significantly alter the challenges and practices of information delivery by nurses in Korea and Italy.
• Organizational factors, patient characteristics, and provider interactions can impede nurse-patient communication.
• Educational interventions are recommended to improve information provision, particularly regarding nursing care plans.