Intensive care nurses' perspectives of family-centered care and their attitudes toward family presence during resuscitation

Abstract

Background: Family-centered care (FCC) has been cited as important to patient care; however, little is known about nurses' perspectives toward FCC. Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) is an example of the implementation of FCC; however, nurses do not necessarily agree with FPDR, especially those from non-Western countries. It is also unknown whether there is an association between FPDR and FCC.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine (a) the attitudes of nurses toward FCC and FPDR and (b) whether there is an association between FCC and FPDR.

Subjects and methods: A convenience sample of 96 Israeli intensive care unit and cardiovascular registered nurses completed 5 questionnaires: a demographic data questionnaire, Nursing Activities for Communication With Families-Revised, Barriers to Providing Family-Centered Care-Revised (Barriers), Nurses' Experiences of Family-Witnessed Resuscitation, and Attitudes to Family Presence During Resuscitation. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations were conducted.

Results: The item mean values for the Nursing Activities for Communication With Families-Revised and the Barriers scales were only 3.7 of 5 and a moderate 2.4 of 4, respectively. Only 19 of the sample (20%) had experienced FPDR, of which 17 reported a negative as opposed to a positive experience. Overall, nurses objected to FPDR (mean item score = 1.8 of 5). No statistically significant relationship was found between FCC and FPDR. A significant negative correlation was found between the Barriers scale and FPDR (r = -0.36, P = .0001).

Conclusion: Although FCC has moderate support, objection still remains to FPDR. Family presence during resuscitation has been used as an example of FCC, but at least in certain populations, this example might not be applicable. Increased education and policy changes should be encouraged to promote FCC and FPDR.