Patient and family members’ perceptions of family participation in care on acute care wards

Abstract

Background Hospital leaders, policymakers and healthcare professionals are realising the benefits of delivering care that promotes family participation because it is known to enhance the quality of care, and improve patient satisfaction. Aim The aim of this study was to explore, from the perspective of patients and family members within an adult acute care ward: (a) their beliefs and attitudes towards family participation in patient care and (b) staff behaviours that support or hinder family participation in patient care. Design and methods A naturalistic approach with an exploratory sequential design was used in a medical assessment and planning unit of a regional referral hospital in Australia. Purposeful maximum variation sampling was used to recruit patients and family members who differed in age, ethnicity, relationship to patient and gender. Observer‐as‐participant observation data and semi‐structured interviews were undertaken. Following separate inductive content analysis, data were triangulated. Results Thirty‐two patients and 26 family members were recruited. Thirty hours of observational data were gathered. Eighteen patients and 15 family members were interviewed. Analysis uncovered two contrasting categories: (a) disconnected communication and (b) family influence quality. Conclusion The findings of our study demonstrated that most patients and families perceived staff communication as disconnected and inadequate, which constrained them from engaging in care processes or decision‐making. However, when family felt empowered and participated in patient care, the quality of health care was enhanced. Healthcare professionals can use these findings to make informed evidence‐based changes to the way they practice and communicate to ensure family participation in patient care is optimised in the acute care setting.

Developing an evidence-based and theory informed intervention to involve families in patients care after surgery: A quality improvement project

“…Involving families as respected partners seems to be simple, but is not easy. For example healthcare professionals miss opportunities to share information with patients and family members, and do not regularly check if their information given was understood or meaningful for them [34]. This constrained families from participation in care processes [34].…”

“…For example healthcare professionals miss opportunities to share information with patients and family members, and do not regularly check if their information given was understood or meaningful for them [34]. This constrained families from participation in care processes [34]. In our project, we focused on active family participation in fundamental care activities to reduce the number of postoperative complications, and the number of unplanned hospital readmissions related to these complications.…”

A Theoretical Lens Through Which to View the Facilitators and Disruptors of Nurse-Promoted Engagement With Families in the ICU

“…However, there are many factors that influence nurses' ability to deliver family care and promote family engagement in clinical practice. Although prior studies have explored some potential barriers to family engagement from the perspective of nurses (Hetland et al,2017(Hetland et al, , 2018Liput et al, 2016), and more recently from the perspective of patients and families (Mackie et al, 2019), a broader theoretical perspective is needed to guide family nursing practice, research, education, and policy. The theory of nurse-promoted engagement with families describes the dynamic interaction of organizational, ICU, nurse, and family factors that influence the delivery of family nursing care in the ICU.…”

Artificial intelligence supported patient self-care in chronic heart failure: a paradigm shift from reactive to predictive, preventive and personalised care

“…In recent years, the doctor-patient relationship has evolved beyond the paternalistic ‘doctor knows best’ model, toward one where the patients wish to be more actively engaged and expect a degree of input in their care [51–53]. This, in turn, represents an opportunity to not only involve the patient in decisions around their care but also to actively involve them in self-administering care.…”