DEFINING INDIVIDUALISED CARE IN INFECTION CONTROL FOR CANCER PATIENTS: A CONCEPT ANALYSIS FOR EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING PRACTICE

Abstract

Individualised care in infection control is increasingly recognised as central to safe, effective, patient-centred oncology nursing practice. Cancer patients face heightened infection vulnerability from immunosuppression, neutropenia, invasive devices, and prolonged hospital exposure, yet the concept of individualised infection control remains inconsistently defined and insufficiently operationalised, limiting evidence-based assessment, education, and policy development. The main objective was to clarify individualised care in infection control for cancer patients using Walker and Avant's (2011) eight-step concept analysis framework, and to propose an evidence-based definition applicable to oncology nursing practice, education, research, and policy. A concept analysis followed Walker and Avant's eight-step model. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL (2020–2025) identified 162 records; following two-stage screening of titles, abstracts, and 50 full texts, fifteen studies were retained. Thematic synthesis extracted definitions, attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents, illustrated through model, borderline, related, and contrary cases. Four defining attributes were identified: individualised infection risk assessment and stratification; targeted, patient-specific, evidence-based infection prevention interventions; person-centred communication, patient engagement, and shared decision-making; and continuous reassessment, dynamic care adaptation, and multidisciplinary coordination. Key antecedents included nurse competency, documented patient risk profiles, enabling organisational conditions, and patient engagement readiness. Consequences included reduced healthcare-associated infection, improved quality of life and treatment adherence, enhanced self-efficacy, reduced healthcare utilisation, and strengthened nursing practice standards. Individualised care in infection control for cancer patients is a dynamic, evidence-based, risk-stratified, and patient-centred nursing practice. The proposed definition strengthens conceptual clarity, supports valid assessment and intervention frameworks, and informs oncology nursing education, practice, and policy aimed at improving infection-related outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings such as Nigeria.