Factors influencing person-centered care among nurses in long-term care hospitals in South Korea: a cross-sectional study

Purpose This study examined levels of compassion competence, professional self-concept, and nursing organizational culture among nurses in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) and analyzed their influence on person-centered care (PCC) in South Korea. The aim was to provide foundational data to support strategies for improving PCC. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted with 201 nurses from 10 LTCHs in Busan, South Korea. Validated instruments were used to assess compassion competence, professional self-concept, nursing organizational culture, and PCC. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression using SPSS version 25.0. Results The mean PCC score was 3.44 out of 5, indicating a moderate level. The levels of compassion competence (M = 3.87 out of 5) and professional self-concept (M = 5.97 out of 8) were also moderate. PCC was positively correlated with compassion competence, professional self-concept, and specific subdomains of organizational culture. Hierarchical regression identified compassion competence (β = 0.43, p < .001), innovation-oriented culture (β = 0.19, p = .006), and satisfaction with work (β = 0.13, p = .042) as significant predictors of PCC, accounting for 48.0% of the variance. Conclusion Compassion competence, innovation-oriented nursing organizational culture, and satisfaction with work significantly influenced PCC among nurses in LTCHs. Healthcare institutions should actively implement strategies to enhance nurses’ compassion competence and promote a supportive, innovative workplace culture and environment to improve PCC.