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To investigate and describe the types of ethical climate that may exist in the Public Hospitals ofthe republic of Cyprus, as they are perceived by Cypriot Nurses and the possible relationship that these types may have, with missed nursing care in these hospitals.

Climate change is associated with extreme temperatures that can have severe effects on public health, in the form of heat-related mortality. In the present paper we perform a health impact assessment for mortality associated with extreme weather in Cyprus, during the months of April-September for the 6-year period between 2004–2009. Additionally, we estimate the potential health effects of higher summer temperatures, in line with climate change projections. The health impact assessment indicates a significant number of heat-related deaths, as well as a rapid increase in mortality for given temperature rise. Specifically, for an increase of 1°C over the baseline temperatures, heat-related mortality doubles, while for a 5 °C increase, mortality is almost 800% the baseline. It is estimated that these results can provide the necessary basis for linking accurate forecasts of extreme events with effective public health measures and interventions.

Aim. This paper is a report of an international study of patients’ and nurses’ perceptions of nurse caring behaviours. Background. Current economic constraints on healthcare systems, demand to increase the quality of care and the incorporation of the consumers’ perspective into care, have created a need to develop a clear understanding of nursing behaviours which convey caring. Patients in different areas of the world report different expectations of nurses’ caring actions when compared to nurses’ views. Method. A descriptive comparative survey design was used to analyse a sample of surgical patients (n = 1659) and their nurses (n = 1195) in 88 wards of 34 hospitals in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary and Italy. Data were collected in autumn 2009 using the Caring Behaviours Inventory-24. Nurses’ and patients’ responses were compared using both inferential and descriptive statistics. Results. Independent samples t-tests showed important differences between nurses’ and patients’ views. Although both groups perceived knowledge and skill as being the most important sub-scale, the nurses’ responses were higher compared to patients (P < 0·05) with important differences in the ‘assurance of human presence’ (P < 0·001) and the ‘respectful deference to others’ (P < 0·001) sub-scales. Cross-country comparisons showed important differences between the nurses’ (F = 24·199, P < 0·001) and patients’ views on caring (F = 26·945, P < 0·001). Conclusions. Important differences were observed between patient–nurse perceptions in the participating countries. The results form a foundation for future research into the development of a common international perspective about caring behaviours between patients and their nurses.

Aim. The aim of this study was to compare patients’ and nurses’ perceptions of individualised care in five European countries, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Finland, Greece and Hungary. Background. Individualised nursing care has been studied from both patients’ and nurses’ perspectives, but to date, there are no studies comparing these perspectives internationally. Methods. A cross-sectional comparative survey design was used. Data were collected from nurses (n = 960; response rate, 79%) and patients (n = 1315; response rate, 78%) in 71 surgical units from 26 acute hospitals in 2009. Data were collected using two Individualised Care Scales (ICS-Nurse and ICS-Patient) and analysed statistically using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results. Differences in patients’ and nurses’ assessments of individualised nursing care were found between each country. Nurses, compared with patients, assessed that they supported patient individuality more often. The Meannurses ranged from 3·61 (SD 0·90, Greece)–4·31 (SD 0·53, Hungary), and the Meanpatients ranged from 3·05 (SD 1·09, Greece)–3·79 (SD 1·00, Cyprus). To a large extent, the care provided was individualised as defined by the Meannurses 3·75 (SD 0·92, Greece)–4·36 (SD 0·49, Hungary) and the Meanpatients 3·41 (SD 0·95, Greece)–4·18 (SD 0·79, Cyprus). In Cyprus and Finland, patients’ assessments of the individuality in their care corresponded well with nurses’ assessments. Clear between-country differences in both patients’ and nurses’ assessments were found in both subscales of the ICS. Conclusions. An in-depth analysis of the European between-country differences is required to define the causes of differences that may be due to the differing content of education, the organisation of nursing work, ideology and values assigned to individualised care and health care systems and processes in each country. Relevance to clinical practice. Obtaining both patients’ and nurses’ assessments of individualised care may facilitate the further development of individualised nursing care and be used to help to harmonise European health care processes and nursing care.

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. Aims: 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.Conclusion: 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.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the burden and emotional well-being experienced by Cypriot families caring for a member suffering from schizophrenia. Psychiatric reforms and the shifting of care from the formal sector to the informal care provided in the community resulted in additional responsibilities and tasks undertaken by the families. There is a substantial body of literature on the profound impacts of caring on family caregivers of individuals suffering from schizophrenia, but little is known about the level of burden and how it correlates with other characteristics.Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. A total of 113 caregivers were recruited from three regional psychiatric outpatient clinics in Cyprus. They were asked to complete a set of well-validated instruments measuring family burden and a socio-demographic data sheet. Analyses include descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses to identify the predictors of family burden.Results: The findings support high level of burden among family caregivers. Forty-three percentage of the participants scored above 24/42 in the Family burden scale. Logistic regression identified three independent variables to predict the presence of subjective caregiver burden: Patient's mental condition in the previous 3-months (p = 0.011), patient's gender (p = 0.028) and caregiver's educational level (p = 0.036).Conclusions: The findings increase our understanding about the variables influencing burden and emotional well-being in schizophrenia caring. They have great clinical importance in health care because they help health professionals to plan intervention strategies focusing on each domain of burden.