The health services paradigm has been shifting away from delivering traditional expert-centered healthcare toward providing patient-centered care, which is expected to be more responsive and sensitive to the needs of care recipients. Patient-centered care is based on the principles of respecting patients and attending to their comprehensive needs and preferences. Because nurses play a pivotal role in delivering patient-centered care, the quality of care that nurses provide is influenced directly by their competencies.

In this issue, we are pleased to present various studies that touch on the core theme of patient-centered care and highlight the importance of prioritizing patient preferences, values, and needs in healthcare delivery. The studies "Clinimetric Properties of the Chinese Short Form of the Sarcopenia Quality of Life Questionnaire in Patients With Cancer" and "Willingness of Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease to Accept a Kidney Transplant and Related Factors" highlight the importance of understanding patient experiences and preferences in the provision of personalized care.

In addition, the studies "Supportive Care Needs of Patients With Temporary Ostomy in Enhanced-Recovery After Surgery: A Mixed Methods Study" and "Effectiveness of Acupressure for Fatigue Alleviation in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials" underscore the importance of addressing specific patient needs and exploring alternative therapies to enhancing patient well-being.

A further two studies, "Nurses' Shared Subjectivity on Person-Centered Care for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Nursing Homes" and "Effects of Length of Employment and Head Nurse Leadership Style on the Clinical Competency of Staff Nurses in Taiwan", explore the factors influencing nursing competence, which significantly influences the delivery of quality individualized, person-centered care. The studies are.

Lastly, two studies, "Effectiveness of A Patient Safety Incident Disclosure Education Program: A Quasi-Experimental Study" and "Relationship Between Unit Characteristics and Fall Incidence: A Cross-Sectional Survey Using Administrative Data in Japan", highlight the importance of organizational factors and patient safety in ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care.

Together, these studies offer valuable insights into the principles and practices of patient-centered care as well as into the factors influencing the nursing competencies necessary for delivering high-quality, person-centered care. We are hopeful that the findings presented in this volume will help inspire future research and advancements in patient-centered healthcare.