Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Family centred care: a review of qualitative studies
Linda Shields1, Jan Pratt, Judith Hunter
1Nursing, University of Hull, Hull, UK. L.Shields@hull.ac.uk
Insights
Family centred care (FCC) is vital in pediatric practice, but its effectiveness and implementation need more research. Studies show negotiation and costs impact FCC delivery, highlighting the need for better support for families with sick children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare Research
- Qualitative Study Analysis
- Healthcare Delivery Systems
Background:
- Family-centered care (FCC) is a cornerstone of pediatric practice.
- FCC effectiveness remains largely unknown.
- A new definition of FCC is proposed, emphasizing parental involvement in care planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review qualitative studies on family-centered care in children's hospitals.
- To supplement a Cochrane systematic review on FCC.
- To explore perceptions and experiences related to FCC implementation.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases.
- Included hand searching and author contact for relevant papers.
- Analyzed qualitative studies separately due to their non-statistical nature.
Main Results:
- Negotiation dynamics between healthcare staff and families significantly influence FCC delivery.
- Perceptions of parental and staff roles are critical factors in FCC implementation.
- The financial and emotional costs of FCC for both families and staff were identified as a key theme.
Conclusions:
- Further research is essential to generate robust evidence on FCC in contemporary healthcare models.
- There is a need to ensure correct implementation of family-centered care in practice.
- Support for families caring for sick children within modern healthcare systems requires enhancement.
Aim:
To review systematically qualitative studies, which were found during a literature search for a Cochrane systematic review of the use of family centred care in children's hospitals.
Background:
Family centred care has become a cornerstone of paediatric practice, however, its effectiveness is not known. No single definition exists, rather a list of elements that constitute family centred care. However, it is recognized to involve the parents in care planning for a child in health services. A new definition is presented here.
Methods:
The papers were found in wide range of databases, by hand searching and by contacting the authors where necessary, using terms given in detail in the protocol in the Cochrane Library, in 2004. Qualitative studies could not be used for statistical analysis, but are still important to the review and so are described separately in this paper.
Results:
Negotiation between staff and families, perceptions held by both parents and staff roles influenced the delivery of family centred care. A sub-theme of cost of family centred care to families and staffs was discovered and this included both financial and emotional costs.
Conclusion:
Further research is needed to generate evidence about family centred care in situations arising from modern models of care in which family centred care is thought to be an inherent part, but which leave families with the care of sick children with little or no support.
Relevance To Clinical Practice:
Family centred care is said to be used widely in practice. More research is needed to ensure that is it being implemented correctly.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Patient-centered Care
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:25Continuing Care
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution itself.
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...