A Qualitative Evaluation of a Family Nursing Intervention

Abstract

Congestive heart failure is a major source of anxiety for both patients and their family. This article presents the results of a qualitative case study aimed at evaluating family nursing interventions from the perspective of the family members and a clinical nurse specialist (CNS). A CNS applied a family nursing intervention program with 4 couples. Data were obtained through semistructured interviews preintervention and postintervention for the couples and postintervention for the CNS. The transcripts of the interviews were submitted for content analysis. For the couples, results show both spouses subject to a high level of suffering, which can be alleviated through a family nursing meeting that allows them to obtain a better understanding of each other's experience. For the CNS, family interventions were considered a privilege since they helped relieve suffering and her own feelings of powerlessness. These results have the potential to improve family nursing interventions and enhance CNS practice.

Family members’ experience of a group-based multi-professional educational programme about chronic heart failure

“…The increased insight into CHF and its effect on the ill person provided the family members in the present study with a better understanding and tolerance in different situations for the person with CHF. This is in line with the findings by Duhamel and colleauges [20] where the spouses expressed that they became more understanding of the ill person. The acquired knowledge created security because family members were better prepared to handle different situations associated with CHF.…”

“…[15,17,20,21] Our results also showed that the acquired knowledge was useful in daily life for both family members and the ill person. Duhamel and colleagues [20] also found that both the spouse and the ill person learned how to deal with the disease better. The increased insight into CHF and its effect on the ill person provided the family members in the present study with a better understanding and tolerance in different situations for the person with CHF.…”

“…The acquired knowledge created security because family members were better prepared to handle different situations associated with CHF. Findings by Duhamel and colleagues [20] confirmed that family members felt more secure with increased knowledge. However, in this study we found that increased knowledge of CHF also created worries for the family members.…”

“…A qualitative evaluation of a nursing intervention for family members of patients with CHF showed that improved disease-related knowledge decreased family members' worries and that they became more understanding of their relative who suffered from CHF. [20] Only a few studies have systematically evaluated educational programmes aimed at family members of persons with CHF. [16] These educational programmes have been given to both the family member and the patient.…”

“…[16] These educational programmes have been given to both the family member and the patient. [15,19,20] To our knowledge, no previous educational programme has been offered exclusively to only family members of patients with CHF. This paper focuses on a multi-professional educational programme offered to family members of persons with CHF, evaluated with an evaluation form and with individual interviews as complements to each other.…”